Herve Renard returns for second spell as Côte d’Ivoire coach

Herve Renard has been appointed head coach of Côte d’Ivoire for a second spell, returning to lead the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions ahead of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

The 57-year-old Frenchman succeeds Emerse Fae, who guided the Elephants to a memorable triumph on home soil at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed Renard’s appointment on Tuesday as the team begins preparations for September’s qualifiers, where Ivory Coast will face regional rivals Ghana in one of the standout fixtures.

Renard is no stranger to success in African football. He led Zambia to a historic Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012 before guiding Côte d’Ivoire to continental glory three years later, becoming the first coach to win the tournament with two different nations.

His coaching career has also included spells with Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, establishing him as one of the most experienced international managers in the game.

Renard returns at a pivotal moment for the Elephants following their Round of 32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His immediate task will be to rebuild momentum and steer the defending African champions through a challenging qualifying campaign.

All eyes will be on September’s meeting with Ghana as Renard begins his second tenure in charge, hoping to add another successful chapter to his long-standing relationship with Ivorian footbal

Daraja Kapoor

Daraja Kapoor is a highly respected football journalist, editor and analyst, known for his compelling storytelling and sharp, data-driven insights into the game. He specialises in match analysis, features, emerging talent coverage and football trends across Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Cape Coast and has built a strong reputation in the media industry through his disciplined approach and deep understanding of football. Daraja received his journalistic training at leading news platform Ghanaguardian.com and has worked with some of the most prominent football websites in Ghana, including Footballmadeinghana.com and Ghanasoccernet.com. He also served as Sports Editor of Talysports.com, where he played a key role in shaping editorial direction and content strategy. He is currently the Managing Editor of African.Football, where he leads the platform’s editorial vision, overseeing content production, quality control and the delivery of authoritative African football coverage to a global audience.

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