Reynald Pedros has opened his tenure as head coach of the Ivory Coast women’s national team with a pair of commanding victories, signalling a positive start to his reign.
At the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Tuesday, the Elephants completed a second consecutive 2-0 win over Kenya in a friendly match, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph across the double-header.
Yasmine Timité struck first in the 19th minute, giving the Ivorian side an early lead. Amy Diallo added the second goal midway through the second half to seal the result.
The win mirrored Friday’s outcome on the same pitch, where the Ivorians had also recorded a 2-0 victory against the Harambee Starlets.
Together, the matches provided a morale-boosting glimpse of what could be expected under Pedros’ guidance as the team prepares for tougher tests ahead.
Appointed in late January, Pedros took over the role with a clear mandate to reinvigorate a side that has been absent from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals for the last three editions.
While cautious in his post-match assessments, the French coach acknowledged the team’s encouraging start under his leadership.
Speaking after the first match, he emphasised the need for sustained effort, noting, “There’s still work to be done” if the Elephants are to compete with the continent’s elite.
Still, the early signs are promising. With two clean sheets and four unanswered goals across the double fixture, Pedros’ approach appears to be resonating with the players.
The team showed organisation, discipline, and attacking intent — qualities they will need to maintain as they head into more competitive fixtures.
Their immediate focus now shifts to the second preliminary round of qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they will face Senegal.
The tie, set to take place between 20 and 28 October, will be a decisive test for a team aiming to reclaim its place among Africa’s best.
Ivory Coast last qualified for the WAFCON finals in 2016. In their most successful campaign to date, they secured the bronze medal in 2014 by defeating South Africa 1-0 in the third-place playoff, courtesy of a goal from Ida Rebecca Guehai.
With that achievement now over a decade behind them, the Elephants are desperate to return to the continental stage and rekindle the success of previous generations.
The appointment of Reynald Pedros, a coach with experience and pedigree, reflects the ambition of the Ivorian Football Federation to bring the women’s national team back into prominence.
For now, back-to-back wins against Kenya provide a solid foundation. As the team continues preparations for their qualification campaign, confidence will be high — even as Pedros insists on keeping expectations grounded.
