Back to news
Copa 2026

Ivory Coast confirms Renard's return 11 years after

Ivory Coast have re-hired Herve Renard as coach after a disappointing outing at this year's World Cup, with the aim of qualifying for the next African Cup of Nations.

12 August 2026
Ivory Coast confirms Renard's return 11 years after

Ivory Coast confirms Renard's return 11 years later

According to Soccernews.

Context

Herve Renard, who already had a mixed spell with the Ivory Coast national team, now returns with the mission of improving the team's performance. During his first tenure, Renard recorded nine wins in 18 games, and the expectation is that he will use this experience to maximize the team's potential, especially with the pressure of qualifying for the AFCON. Renard's impact will be closely watched given his track record and the need for positive results.

Why this matters

Herve Renard's return to Ivory Coast is significant, especially after the team's elimination from this year's World Cup. Renard has already proven himself to be an effective coach, having guided the team to victory at the 2015 AFCON, and now faces the responsibility of restoring the national team's confidence and competitiveness. His experience is crucial to the future of Côte d'Ivoire, especially with the next edition of AFCON in sight.

Main conclusions

  • Ivory Coast confirms Renard's return 11 years later.
  • Ivory Coast have re-hired Herve Renard as coach after a disappointing exit at this year's World Cup, with the aim of qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations.
  • Ivory Coast confirms Renard returns 11 years after AFCON success.

Côte d'Ivoire announced the return of Herve Renard to command their national team, following their elimination from this year's World Cup in the group stage. The French coach returns to the national team after leading Ivory Coast to their second African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 2015, a feat that solidified his reputation in African football.

In 2024, Emerse Fae, who took over the national team during AFCON, was responsible for leading Ivory Coast to victory in the tournament, but the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) decided not to renew Fae's contract after his contract expired on July 31. Fae had also guided Ivory Coast to the round of 16 of the World Cup, where the team was eliminated by Norway with a score of 2-1.

Image

During his first spell in Côte d'Ivoire, Renard had a mixed performance, with a total of nine wins in 18 games, as well as five draws and four defeats. His cycle ended after a memorable penalty shootout victory over Ghana in the 2015 AFCON final. Since then, Renard has had various experiences at club and national team, including a brief period in charge of Tunisia at this year's World Cup, where he was unable to prevent the team from finishing last in Group F, after resounding defeats against Japan (0-4) and the Netherlands (1-3).

The big challenge that Renard now faces is ensuring that Ivory Coast qualifies for the next edition of AFCON, where they will be placed in a difficult group alongside traditional rivals Ghana. The first step will be to prepare the team for the upcoming qualifying games, where the pressure to succeed will be high given the team's recent history.

Renard is well known for his ability to motivate and bring out the best in players, and he is expected to use this experience to take Ivory Coast to new heights, both in the qualifiers and the upcoming AFCON. With a mix of young talent and experienced players, Renard will have the task of creating a strong competitive spirit within the group and returning the national team to the shine it had in 2015.

What happens next

With Renard back, Ivory Coast will be hoping for a renewed approach to qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations. The coach will have to work quickly to integrate new talent and solidify the team, especially after Emerse Fae's temporary success. The team's performance in the upcoming qualifiers will be fundamental in determining its ability to compete in the continental tournament.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score of the match between Ivory Coast and Norway at the World Cup?

Ivory Coast were eliminated by Norway with a score of 2-1.

How does the change of coach impact Ivory Coast's ranking?

The change of coach could impact Côte d'Ivoire's ranking in upcoming competitions, especially in the AFCON qualifiers.

Who is the new coach of the Ivory Coast national team?

The new coach of the Ivory Coast national team is Hervé Renard.

When will Ivory Coast's next game be?

Ivory Coast's next games will be the AFCON qualifiers.

How many victories did Hervé Renard have in his first spell in Ivory Coast?

Hervé Renard had a total of nine wins in 18 games during his first spell in Ivory Coast.

Related Items