Ivory Coast’s triumphant football team, along with coach Emerse Fae, were honored at a presidential ceremony in Abidjan on Tuesday for their Africa Cup of Nations victory as hosts.
Following their 2-1 win against Nigeria in the final on Sunday, each squad member was granted a bonus of 50 million CFA francs ($82,152) and a villa of equivalent value.
Coach Fae, who took charge midway through the tournament, replacing Jean-Louis Gasset after a 4-0 group-stage defeat by Equatorial Guinea, received a bonus of 100 million CFA francs for orchestrating the team’s remarkable comeback.
President Alassane Ouattara commended the players, saying, “You have brought happiness to all Ivorians, bravo, bravo.” In addition to the monetary rewards, the players were bestowed with the national order, the highest public honor in Ivory Coast.
