Nicolas Pepe faces Ivory Coast omission after Herve Renard return

Nicolas Pepe is expected to miss Ivory Coast’s first international gathering since Herve Renard returned as head coach, despite making an impressive start to the season and playing a prominent role at the 2026 World Cup.

The 31-year-old winger scored for Villarreal last weekend in his first appearance of the campaign, but journalist Malick Traore reports that he is unlikely to be included in the Elephants squad for the September-October international window.

Pepe is reportedly not part of Renard’s plans, with the two men said not to have spoken since the French coach resumed responsibility for the national team. That would represent another setback for the former Lille player if confirmed.

The situation is particularly striking given Pepe’s contribution during Ivory Coast’s World Cup campaign. He was retained in the squad after being recalled in March, when the team was preparing for the tournament, and scored the only goal in a victory over Scotland before supplying an assist against France.

He then scored twice against Curacao, helping carry Ivory Coast into the last 16. Pepe also created the equaliser against Norway, although Erling Haaland scored a late winner to eliminate the Ivorians.

His latest omission would follow a previous decision to leave him out under Emerse Fae. Pepe was dropped in December last year, shortly before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, after making a joke about tournament hosts Morocco.

The comments came during an interview with French-Algerian influencer Just Riadh, when Pepe mocked the Atlas Lions over their limited trophy record and their most recent title, which dates back to 1976.

“ Ils ont combien d’etoiles, eux ? Une ? Ils ont du gagner ca en 1818, mon pere n’etait meme pas ne ”, he said.

Pepe was later brought back into the Ivory Coast squad in March and responded on the pitch. His goal against Scotland was followed by the assist against France, before he produced his two-goal performance against Curacao at the World Cup.

However, despite those displays and his recent goal for Villarreal, he now appears set to be left out of Renard’s first squad since returning to the Ivory Coast job.

The report that there has been no contact between the player and the manager contradicts earlier suggestions that discussions had taken place. If Pepe is not selected, Renard will face an immediate and potentially sensitive decision at the start of his second spell in charge.