Hervé Renard has shared a vivid memory from his time as Morocco’s head coach, recounting a humorous yet revealing episode involving Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi.
Speaking to L’Équipe, the seasoned French tactician—who led the Moroccan national team from 2016 to 2019—offered insights into the distinctive demands of African football compared to the European game, drawing on years of experience managing teams across both continents.
Renard, who has won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with both Zambia and Ivory Coast, stressed that the environment and expectations in Africa require a very different mindset, particularly from Europe-based players.
“When they come to the African continent, I always used this expression: ‘You have to wear the African costume,’” Renard said. “There are requirements, you can’t play only with your name and the qualities you have at your club. You come to wear the national team jersey and you often have to do more. Because the athletic level is very high, the duels are constant. There are sometimes teams that are not technically exceptional, but in terms of commitment you can be sure that it’s going to be a fight.”
Renard illustrated the point with an anecdote involving Hakimi, the Moroccan right-back who has played for top European clubs including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and PSG. The story dates back to a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Comoros, where conditions were a far cry from Europe’s elite stadiums.
@Herve_Renard_HR raconte son Afrique, la Zambie, @EnMaroc , la Côte d’Ivoire, ses joueurs et sa vie.., formidable voyage sur le continent. Podcast « Afrique Football club » – Hervé Renard : « La Côte d’Ivoire, c’était une Formule 1 » https://t.co/VufsruOB56
— Herve Penot (@hpenot_lequipe) May 1, 2025
“Away matches where I remember one day we went to play in the Comoros on a synthetic pitch and we traveled 12km of clay by bus,” he recalled. “I remember saying to Achraf Hakimi: ‘Today we’re not going to the Nou Camp, eh’” (laughs). The comment referenced Hakimi’s experience playing at FC Barcelona’s iconic stadium during his time with Real Madrid. “But it was to explain to him that it was easier to play at the Camp Nou than in the Comoros,” Renard added with a laugh. “You have to put yourself in African competition mode. You have to know how to adapt, to fight.”
During his tenure with the Atlas Lions, Renard led the team to 25 wins, 9 draws, and 11 defeats.
His campaigns in the 2017 and 2019 AFCON tournaments ended in the quarter-finals and round of 16, respectively, while Morocco exited the 2018 World Cup at the group stage.
Now back at the helm of Saudi Arabia for a second spell, Renard remains a vocal advocate for the adaptability and resilience required to thrive in African football.
