Cote d’Ivoire part company with Fae as former Cup-winning coach Renard enters frame

Emerse Fae has left his position as Cote d’Ivoire manager after deciding not to renew his contract, with former coach Herve Renard already being considered as a possible replacement.

The 42-year-old’s deal expired on Friday and, according to L’Equipe, the decision to move on came from Fae himself. His departure comes with elections at the Federation Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) scheduled for 12 September 2026, creating uncertainty over the direction of the national team.

A three-month contract extension had reportedly been discussed internally. That arrangement would have allowed Fae to remain in charge for the start of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, which is due to begin in September with matches against Ghana and Gambia.

Fae, however, is understood to have preferred to leave rather than accept a short-term extension tied to an electoral calendar he could not control.

His time in charge began in dramatic circumstances. He was appointed on an emergency basis to replace Jean-Louis Gasset during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire. After guiding the Elephants through a remarkable run, Fae led them to the trophy on home soil and was subsequently handed the job on a permanent basis.

He leaves with a record that includes Cote d’Ivoire’s third Africa Cup of Nations title, won in 2023, and a historic run to the last 32 of the World Cup. That was the country’s first appearance at that stage for 12 years, although their campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat by Norway.

Despite those achievements and generally positive results, Fae had come under increasing pressure since the start of the year. Criticism intensified after Cote d’Ivoire were beaten by Egypt in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The timing of his departure presents a sensitive issue for the FIF. The federation is preparing for its own leadership elections, and a new administration may want to have a decisive say in the appointment of the next manager rather than inherit a choice made by the outgoing officials.

That political backdrop is one reason Fae is thought to have rejected the proposed temporary extension and chosen to leave immediately.

Renard has emerged as an early contender, with British journalist Pete O’Rourke reporting that his name is being discussed prominently. The Frenchman is familiar with Cote d’Ivoire, having previously managed the Elephants and guided them to victory at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Renard has since worked on a number of projects in Africa and elsewhere, including with Morocco, Saudi Arabia on two occasions and the France women’s team. He recently parted company with Tunisia after serving as interim coach at the 2026 World Cup.

According to Romain Molina, Renard is favoured by outgoing FIF president Idriss Diallo. His appointment would offer continuity for a federation keen to maintain Cote d’Ivoire’s recent progress without starting again with an entirely new coach.

However, Renard is also attracting interest from several other national teams. Algeria, South Africa and South Korea are among those reportedly considering him. South Africa are also searching for a manager after Hugo Broos announced his departure on Friday.