The appointment, confirmed in an official communiqué signed by federation president Yacine Idriss Diallo, comes days after the decision not to renew the contract of Emerse Faé. Faé’s tenure, which began as an interim appointment in early 2024 following the mid tournament dismissal of Jean Louis Gasset, produced the 2024 AFCON triumph on home soil and a first ever appearance in the last 16 of a World Cup at the 2026 finals in North America. Despite those achievements, the federation opted for change as it looks towards the 2027 continental championship and beyond.
In its statement the FIF said the nomination “translates the will of the Federation to consolidate the gains obtained by the national A selection in recent years, while pursuing the ambitions assigned to Ivorian football on the African and international stages.” It highlighted Renard’s “experience of high level football, his knowledge of African football and his attachment to Ivorian football,” adding that he would prepare and lead the team in forthcoming international fixtures in close collaboration with the federation’s technical structures. Renard is expected in Abidjan in the coming days and will be formally presented at a news conference whose details are still to be announced. The federation extended “its wishes of full success in the accomplishment of this high mission in the service of the Nation and of Ivorian football.”
Renard himself confirmed the terms of the deal to journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, stating that he had signed a two-year contract. The move reunites him with a country where he remains hugely popular. Between July 2014 and May 2015 he guided a side featuring Yaya Touré, Gervinho and the Touré brothers to the AFCON title in Equatorial Guinea, defeating Ghana 9-8 on penalties in the final after a goalless draw. That success made him the first coach to win the competition with two different nations, having previously led Zambia to an unexpected triumph in 2012.
His career since leaving Abidjan has been restless and eventful. After a short and unsuccessful spell at Lille he took charge of Morocco, then Saudi Arabia (twice), the France women’s team and, most recently, a brief emergency role with Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup. Appointed mid tournament after Sabri Lamouchi’s dismissal following a 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden, Renard oversaw further losses to Japan and the Netherlands as Tunisia exited at the group stage. Free of contractual ties once that interlude ended, he became the subject of interest from several African federations before settling on a return to the Elephants.
The decision to part with Faé has raised eyebrows given the recent silverware and World Cup progress. Yet the federation clearly prioritises continuity of ambition over continuity of personnel. Renard’s reputation as a man who thrives on the intensity of African football, combined with the emotional capital he still holds among supporters, appears to have outweighed any reservations about another change so soon after a successful cycle.
The immediate horizon is the 2027 AFCON and the subsequent qualifying campaigns that will follow. Renard arrives with a proven record of extracting maximum performance from talented but sometimes underachieving squads, a distinctive touchline presence in his trademark white shirt, and the rare distinction of having already written himself into the country’s footballing history. Whether he can add a second continental title with the same nation remains the central question of the new chapter that began in Abidjan on Tuesday.
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