Hervé Renard will announce his first Côte d’Ivoire squad since returning as manager on 16 September, marking the beginning of his second spell in charge of the Elephants.
The French coach is expected to reveal his selections for the September international window during a news conference in Abidjan, as Côte d’Ivoire prepare for the start of their campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The squad announcement will be closely watched as Renard begins his latest tenure with a team that possesses considerable talent and high expectations.
Renard will unveil his list of selected players at 14:00 on 16 September during a press conference at the headquarters of Orange Côte d’Ivoire.
The event will provide the returning manager with his first opportunity to publicly outline the players he has chosen, as well as address questions about his plans and ambitions for the national side.
The Côte d’Ivoire national team confirmed the announcement on social media, saying Renard would discuss his “Choix, ambitions, objectifs…” and respond to questions from members of the media.
The appointment represents a return to familiar territory for Renard, who comes back to the Elephants with the distinction of having won the Africa Cup of Nations with Côte d’Ivoire in 2015.
That achievement is expected to add to the expectations surrounding his second spell, with his initial squad selections likely to receive considerable attention.
The 16 September announcement will therefore be an important first step as Renard begins preparing his players for the challenges ahead.
Côte d’Ivoire face a demanding international schedule during the upcoming window, with Renard’s team due to play three matches on home soil.
The Elephants will face Ghana and Somalia during the period, before completing the schedule with a friendly against Cameroon.
The three fixtures will give Renard an early opportunity to assess his squad and begin implementing his plans following his return to the national team.
The matches also come as Côte d’Ivoire prepare to embark on the road towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with the PAMOJA tournament providing the broader objective for the campaign.
Renard’s first squad will consequently be scrutinised as he decides which players will form the foundation of his second tenure.
The manager’s return comes with considerable expectations because of his previous success with the Elephants. His 2015 African title remains a major part of his record with Côte d’Ivoire and provides the backdrop to his latest assignment.
With the first squad announcement now scheduled for 16 September, attention will turn to the players Renard believes can help him achieve his ambitions with the national side.
The press conference in Abidjan will also give the manager the chance to explain his choices directly to the media and outline his objectives for the upcoming fixtures.
The Elephants will then begin their busy international window with three home matches against Ghana, Somalia and Cameroon.
For Renard, the period represents the first significant test of his second spell in charge and an opportunity to start shaping the team ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The countdown to his return is therefore nearing its conclusion, with the first major decision of his new tenure set to be revealed on 16 September.
