Ivory Coast boss Emerse Fae believes Manchester United winger Amad can emulate the success of Ivorian icons Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a sharp rise at Old Trafford this season, scoring nine goals and registering seven assists in 35 appearances across all competitions.

He has excelled since Ruben Amorim was appointed as Erik ten Hag's successor in November and has been rewarded with a new long-term contract, keeping him at the club until June 2030. The winger will soon have ambitions of making his mark on the international stage, particularly with the 2026 World Cup now less than 18 months away.

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And for Ivory Coast chief Fae, Amad has everything needed to make his mark on the international stage, backing him to follow in the footsteps of some of the African nation's most famous figures.

"Amad needs to keep working hard to remain at the top," Fae said. "He has the potential to achieve the same success as Drogba, [Salomon] Kalou, Yaya Toure, and Kolo Toure.

"However, he must put in the effort because only through hard work can he have a career like theirs. He has the ability, but it all comes down to his dedication and determination."

Amad has earned just six senior caps his country thus far, last featuring back in September. Next up for the Ivory Coast is the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign in March. They are scheduled to face Burundi and Gambia in next month's international break and will be determined to get their qualifying campaign off to a strong start. The Ivorians have failed to qualify for the last two World Cups.