Herve Renard insists there is ‘no such thing as a friendly’ against Cameroon

Cote d’Ivoire manager Herve Renard has warned his players to treat Saturday’s international friendly against Cameroon with the seriousness of a competitive match.

The two sides meet on Saturday, 3 October at 19:00 in a highly anticipated fixture between two of African football’s leading nations. With supporters expected to attend in large numbers, Renard said the occasion demanded full commitment from Cote d’Ivoire.

“There is no such thing as a friendly. The people will come to watch this match, and we must respect that. Especially against Cameroon, there is never a friendly,” he said.

Renard’s comments have set the tone for a fiercely contested meeting between the Elephants and their historic rivals. Cote d’Ivoire will approach the match with the intensity and discipline normally associated with a major competitive fixture.