Herve Renard appointed Ivory Coast coach for second spell

Frenchman Herve Renard has been appointed Ivory Coast coach for a second spell, returning to the team he guided to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015.

The appointment was announced by the Ivorian football federation on Tuesday, with Renard replacing Emerse Fae.

Fae’s contract was not renewed after the 2026 Fifa World Cup, despite Ivory Coast reaching the knockout stages for the first time in four appearances at the tournament. Their campaign ended with a defeat by Norway in the last 32.

Renard, 57, was used as an emergency replacement for Tunisia during the World Cup in June. He took charge after Tunisia suffered a 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their opening match.

However, the French coach was unable to change the team’s fortunes. Tunisia subsequently lost to Japan and the Netherlands, conceding a further seven goals across those two matches.

They were the only one of the 10 African teams competing at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States to fail to reach the last 32.

Renard now returns to a side with which he has already achieved major success. He led Ivory Coast to the continental title in 2015, and will attempt to win a third Africa Cup of Nations crown when next year’s tournament is staged across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

His first competitive task will come in next month’s qualifying campaign. Ivory Coast will begin with a significant home match against neighbours Ghana, who also competed at the World Cup, before facing Somalia in another Group C fixture four days later.

Renard has extensive experience of international management across Africa and beyond. Before and after his first spell with Ivory Coast, he coached Angola, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Zambia.

His time with Zambia brought another Africa Cup of Nations triumph, in 2012. That success, followed by Ivory Coast’s victory three years later, means he has already won the competition twice.

He also worked outside the men’s international game when he became coach of France’s women’s team at the Paris Olympics two years ago.

His return to Ivory Coast comes after a brief and difficult assignment with Tunisia. Renard’s arrival at the 2026 World Cup was intended to steady the team following their heavy opening defeat, but losses against Japan and the Netherlands left them unable to progress from the tournament.

Ivory Coast’s federation has now turned to a coach who is familiar with the national team and has a proven record in the Africa Cup of Nations. Renard’s immediate focus will be preparing the squad for the meetings with Ghana and Somalia, before attempting to guide the Ivorians to another continental title next year.