Herve Renard plots long-term Cote d’Ivoire challenge through to 2030

Herve Renard has set his sights on winning the next two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments with Cote d’Ivoire and leading the team to the 2030 World Cup after returning as head coach.

Renard spoke to the Ivorian media on Thursday, 11 years after his previous spell in charge, as he was formally presented as the new manager of the national team.

The two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner has immediately made clear that he wants to compete for major honours at the 2027 and 2028 editions of the continental tournament. Renard’s return gives him the opportunity to add to a record that has remained unchanged since 2015, when he won his most recent title during his first period with the Elephants.

His contract runs until 2028, but the Frenchman is also looking further ahead. He wants to be involved with Cote d’Ivoire at the 2030 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

That would give Renard a fourth successive appearance at the global tournament, following his involvement in 2018, 2022 and 2026. The achievement, however, depends on the results he produces with Cote d’Ivoire over the next several years.

Renard therefore intends to address the weaknesses that affected the Ivorians during the 2026 World Cup. In particular, he wants to eliminate the lapses in concentration that contributed to the team’s early departure in the round of 32.

The 2026 campaign remains an important reference point for the challenges facing the returning manager. Although his ambitions extend across two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the next World Cup, the immediate task will be to ensure that Cote d’Ivoire are more consistent and resilient when major matches are decided.

Renard’s appointment marks a return to a team he previously managed more than a decade ago. His first spell ended with the 2015 continental title, the last major honour recorded in his managerial career. His latest mandate, beginning with the presentation on Thursday, comes with the expectation that he can restore that level of success.

The schedule ahead gives him a clear long-term framework. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations provides the first major target, followed by the 2028 edition, while the 2030 World Cup represents the wider objective attached to his contract and his plans with the Orange.

For Renard, the challenge is not simply to return Cote d’Ivoire to the biggest international stage. He also wants to correct the errors exposed in 2026 and turn his renewed tenure into another period of trophies, beginning with the next continental competitions.