Herve Renard Returns to Lead Ivory Coast in New AFCON Title Bid

Herve Renard has been appointed as Ivory Coast head coach for a second spell, more than a decade after guiding the nation to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title. The French manager replaces Emerse Fae, whose contract was not renewed following the team's exit in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Although Ivory Coast reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in four appearances, their campaign ended with a defeat to Norway. The federation decided a new direction was needed, turning once again to Renard, who has built a strong reputation through his success with African national teams.

Renard remains one of the continent's most accomplished international coaches, having won the Africa Cup of Nations with both Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015. His coaching career has also included spells with Angola, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the France women's national team during the Paris Olympic cycle.

Before returning to Ivory Coast, Renard briefly took charge of Tunisia during the 2026 World Cup after the team's difficult start to the tournament. Despite his arrival, Tunisia failed to recover and became the only African representative unable to progress beyond the group stage.

His immediate focus will be preparing Ivory Coast for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where he hopes to deliver another continental triumph. The new chapter begins next month with crucial AFCON qualifying matches against Ghana and Somalia, providing an early opportunity to make a strong impression.