Hervé Renard will begin his second spell as Ivory Coast coach with a potentially significant meeting against Ghana in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Frenchman is expected to take charge of the Elephants for the first time since his return when Ivory Coast host the Black Stars in Abidjan in September 2026.
Renard has been appointed with the task of restoring Ivory Coast’s fortunes after their disappointing campaign at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
His opening assignment will also carry added significance because of his history with the Ivorian national team and his previous encounters with Ghana.
The 57-year-old coach led Ivory Coast to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title, beating Ghana on penalties in the final to secure the country’s continental crown.
Eight years after that triumph, Renard will once again be involved in a competitive fixture between the two West African rivals, this time beginning another chapter in his coaching career with the Elephants.
The September qualifier will be played in Abidjan, giving Renard the opportunity to make an immediate impression in front of Ivory Coast’s supporters.
Victory would provide the new coach with an ideal start as he attempts to rebuild confidence around the national side and begin his latest tenure on a positive note.
Ivory Coast turned to Renard after ending their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat by Norway in the knockout stage.
The result brought their tournament run to an end and was followed by the decision to part company with Emerse Faé.
Renard now takes over a team expected to challenge for honours and qualify for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The match against Ghana will therefore be an early test of his ability to impose his ideas and establish his authority in the new role.
Ghana will arrive with their own strong motivation.
The Black Stars missed out on the previous Africa Cup of Nations and faced heavy criticism over their failure to qualify.
Their desire to secure a place at the next tournament is expected to add further importance to the September encounter.
With both sides having clear objectives, the meeting in Abidjan is expected to be closely contested.
For Renard, however, the match will carry an additional personal dimension.
His previous success with Ivory Coast remains one of the defining achievements of his coaching career, and his return gives him the chance to lead the Elephants once again in a major qualifying campaign.
Renard has considerable experience of African international football beyond his first spell with Ivory Coast.
He has coached Angola, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Zambia during his career.
His time with Zambia also produced continental success, as he guided the team to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012.
That record gives Renard extensive experience of managing national teams and competing in African football.
His immediate challenge will be to translate that experience into results for Ivory Coast.
The September fixture against Ghana will be his first opportunity to do so competitively since being appointed to replace Faé.
The match will also provide an early indication of how quickly Renard can begin to shape the Elephants following their World Cup disappointment.
For Ghana, qualification for the next AFCON will be a major objective after their absence from the previous tournament.
For Ivory Coast, the appointment of Renard represents an attempt to return to the top of African football under a coach who has already delivered the country’s most recent continental title.
The meeting in Abidjan could therefore set the tone for the two nations’ respective qualification campaigns.
