Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae disappointed by Bastian Schweinsteiger remarks

Fae had just secured his side's progression to the knockout rounds of the continental showpiece for the first time with a 2-0 victory over Curacao, as runners-up to Germany in Group E when asked to reflect on the statement.

Nicolas Pepe bagged a brace at the Philadelphia Stadium on Thursday, as group leaders Germany lost 2-1 to Ecuador.

Ivory Coast kicked off their tournament with a 1-0 defeat of Ecuador before a narrow 2-1 loss to the Mannschaft and prior to the game Schweinsteiger was reported to have said on German TV that the Ivorians played 'African football', which was 'a bit unorthodox sometimes, a bit wild, not quite as tactical.'"

When asked about the comments, Fae said on Al Jazeera: "I think it's sad. He was a very, very good player; a great player.

"I've always loved him, personally. As a midfielder, I've always liked the way he played, the way he understood football. So when I heard his comments, I was disappointed, disappointed in the man.

"Because when you know football the way he knows it, it's odd that you would speak that way, which we could call racist if we were calling a spade a spade, but that's the way it is.

"I can't change the way he talks.

"But all I can do is show on the pitch that Africa is not just the physical game. We are very technical as well, very tactical.

"And all I can hope is that this was just a clumsy statement, that it wasn't particularly reflective of what's in his mind."

READ MORE: Group E - Ecuador stun Germany to both reach FIFA World Cup knockout spots with Ivory Coast