Herve Renard to unveil Cote d’Ivoire plans at Thursday news conference

Herve Renard will hold his first news conference as Cote d’Ivoire’s returning head coach on Thursday, after the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed the date of his official presentation.

The former manager will face the media at 14:00 French time, which is midday in Cote d’Ivoire. The announcement comes after the FIF formally confirmed his return to the Elephants on Tuesday.

Renard is expected to explain the reasons behind his decision to take charge of Cote d’Ivoire again, 11 years after leaving the national team. He is also likely to outline the identity and priorities he wants to establish during his second spell, with the team preparing for its next competitive commitments.

The Frenchman’s first match since returning will come during the international window from 21 September to 6 October. That fixture will mark Cote d’Ivoire’s opening appearance in the qualifying campaign for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.

Renard previously led the Elephants during a successful period that culminated in their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Equatorial Guinea. His latest match in charge of the three-time African champions was played on 29 March 2015, one month after that tournament victory.

Cote d’Ivoire drew 1-1 with Nzalang Nacional in the match, with Max-Alain Gradel scoring the equaliser in the 71st minute. It was Renard’s final game with the national side before his departure.

His return will reunite him with Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare, both of whom he worked with during his first tenure. The squad he selects for the next international window is therefore being closely watched.

The upcoming news conference will provide Renard with his first public opportunity to discuss his new mandate since the FIF announced his appointment. It will also offer an initial indication of how he intends to approach the Elephants’ preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Renard, who was born in Aix-les-Bains, now begins a second chapter with a team he previously guided to continental success. His immediate task will be to prepare Cote d’Ivoire for the start of its qualifying campaign, while his first squad announcement is expected to attract considerable interest because of the players he has already coached and the direction he chooses for the returning side.