Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae has encouraged Simon Adingra to develop a career that follows in the footsteps of football legend Didier Drogba.
Adingra, who rose to prominence after playing a pivotal role in Ivory Coast’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph by assisting Sebastian Haller’s winning goal, has been widely recognized for his talent.
The 23-year-old winger was named the tournament’s Best Young Player and later finished as the runner-up for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year, behind Ademola Lookman.
Despite acknowledging Adingra’s remarkable ability, Fae made it clear that the two players should not be compared, highlighting their differences in playing style.
“I don’t like to compare players. Drogba is Drogba, and Adingra is Adingra. They are not the same kind of player, and he’s different from Drogba,” Fae told Flashscore.
“He’s a young player with a lot of talent. I just hope he continues to work hard because, at his age, consistent effort is crucial for improving day by day and year after year,” he added.
Fae also urged the Brighton and Hove Albion forward to focus on securing a regular starting spot at his club while striving to emulate Drogba’s career trajectory.
“At the moment, he is not a regular starter at Brighton, so he must work hard to earn that position and continue his efforts, particularly as he still has limited international caps.”
“He’s a young international player, so he needs to stay focused and keep working hard to improve, aiming to build a career similar to Drogba’s.”
Having come through the Right to Dream Academy, Adingra is seen as a vital player for Fae, who is focused on defending Ivory Coast’s AFCON title in Morocco later this year.
“It’s a pleasure for me to have him in my team because he brings a lot of positive qualities. I hope he continues to work hard to reach the top,” Fae admitted.
“He will be in great form for the upcoming (international) matches. Being nominated for the African Player of the Year at such a young age is a significant achievement too.”
Adingra has scored three goals in 18 appearances for Ivory Coast so far in his international career.