Renard returns to Cote d’Ivoire with champions ready to chase a bigger legacy

Herve Renard is back in charge of Cote d’Ivoire 11 years after leading the Elephants to their second Africa Cup of Nations title, but his task has changed significantly. Rather than rebuilding a side desperate to end a long wait for continental success, the Frenchman inherits reigning African champions who must now establish themselves among the continent’s leading teams and make further progress on the world stage.

Renard’s first spell began in 2014, when Cote d’Ivoire were still searching for their first major trophy despite possessing a celebrated generation. Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Salomon Kalou were approaching the end of their international careers, while repeated disappointment at the Africa Cup of Nations had created a sense that the team was failing to fulfil its potential.

That changed under Renard at the 2015 tournament, when the Elephants won their second continental crown. The circumstances surrounding his return in 2026 are very different. Cote d’Ivoire are already Africa Cup of Nations winners after their historic triumph on home soil in 2023, and they reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 tournament in Morocco, where they were beaten by Egypt.

The Elephants have also returned to the World Cup and reached the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Renard is therefore not being asked to restore the country’s reputation. His challenge is to turn recent success into a sustained presence among Africa’s elite.

The squad itself has also evolved. In 2015, Renard had a group of established players at or near their peak. Yaya Toure was the African Footballer of the Year, Gervinho was shining in Serie A, Wilfried Bony had just produced an outstanding Premier League season, Serge Aurier was emerging as one of the continent’s best full-backs and Salomon Kalou provided extensive experience.

Today’s team is younger and more balanced. Franck Kessie has become the midfield leader, while Ibrahim Sangare is now an established figure in his position. Around them, Amad Diallo, Oumar Diakite, Evan Ndicka, Simon Adingra and Yan Diomande represent the next generation.

That means Renard must help several players continue developing rather than simply relying on a settled core of senior figures. It also gives him a different kind of responsibility: preserving the standards of a successful team while preparing it for the future.

A new identity to protect

The biggest tactical and personal challenge may be following Emerse Fae, who leaves behind a side recognised for its strong identity, collective spirit and ability to perform in major matches. Cote d’Ivoire’s early exit in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations did not alter the wider view that they remain one of Africa’s strongest national teams.

Renard will have to avoid trying to recreate the methods that worked more than a decade ago. African football has changed considerably since 2015. Players now work in more demanding tactical environments in Europe, data has become increasingly important in match preparation and the gap between many African national teams has narrowed.

The Frenchman will need to adjust his ideas while retaining the qualities that have defined his career: his man-management skills, unifying communication and ability to inspire teams at major tournaments.

He does, however, return to a dressing room containing two familiar faces. Kessie and Sangare were among the younger players gradually brought into the Ivorian project during Renard’s first tenure. Neither ultimately featured at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but the coach had already recognised their potential. Eleven years later, they are among the Elephants’ leaders.

That shared history could make the transition after Fae’s departure easier. The senior players understand Renard’s demands, while the coach already knows which profiles can form the basis of his team.

The wider objective extends beyond the next Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Renard has since managed Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia at the World Cup, giving him greater international experience than he had in 2015. That background is likely to be a key reason for his appointment.

Cote d’Ivoire now have a generation capable of competing with the best African teams. Qualification for the 2030 World Cup will be an initial target, but the more ambitious aim is to become a side capable of regularly progressing beyond the early rounds of the competition, building on the encouraging 2026 World Cup campaign.

Renard returns as a national hero, but that status brings pressure. In 2015, he had everything to gain. In 2026, he must protect an existing legacy while meeting even higher expectations. His first spell is remembered for delivering a continental trophy; his second will be judged on whether he can convert champions of Africa into a lasting force in world football.