Hervé Renard appointed head coach of Ivory Coast national football team

The Ivorian Football Federation announced on 4 August 2026 that French coach Hervé Renard has been re‑appointed as manager of the Ivory Coast senior national team. Renard, who led the Elephants to their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015, returns after a decade‑long absence, succeeding Emerse Faé whose contract was not renewed.

Renard’s mandate includes preparing the side for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup. He will arrive in Abidjan in the coming days for an official hand‑over and a press conference. The federation highlighted his extensive experience in African football, including previous AFCON victories with Zambia in 2012 and coaching stints with Morocco, Ghana, Angola and a spell in Europe.

The appointment is presented as both symbolic and strategic, aiming to sustain the recent performance gains of the Elephants and to rebuild a competitive squad for upcoming international tournaments.