Ivory Coast appoints Hervé Renard as head coach

The Ivorian Football Federation has officially reappointed French coach Hervé Renard as head coach of the Ivory Coast national team, marking his return to the role more than a decade after leading the country to an Africa Cup of Nations title. The federation confirmed the appointment in a statement on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Renard, 57, succeeds former Ivory Coast international Emerse Fae, whose contract was not renewed following the recent FIFA World Cup. Under Fae's guidance, the Elephants reached the tournament's knockout stage for the first time in their history before being eliminated by Norway. Renard's most recent position was a brief stint in charge of Tunisia during that same World Cup, where the team lost all three of its group stage matches and was the only African side not to advance.

The Frenchman's first spell with Ivory Coast, from 2014 to 2015, is remembered for delivering the nation's second continental championship. He guided the team to victory in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, ending a 23-year title drought with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Ghana in the final. Renard is the only coach to have won the AFCON with two different nations, having first...