Herve Renard will announce his first Cote d’Ivoire squad since returning as head coach on 16 September, 11 years after leading the Elephants to continental glory.
The Frenchman will reveal his selection at 14:00 on Wednesday at the Orange Cote d’Ivoire headquarters. The squad will begin the country’s qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with a first major test against Ghana in Bouake on 24 September.
Renard’s choices will be closely examined after the end of Emerse Fae’s tenure. Fae guided Cote d’Ivoire to victory at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and then to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, securing the country’s first appearance in the knockout phase of the competition.
The new manager, therefore, inherits a side with an established foundation rather than one requiring a complete rebuild. However, the end of Fae’s reign also raised questions, with some of the decisions made during the World Cup coming under criticism.
The first significant issue will be whether Renard retains the existing core or opts for a more substantial change in personnel. His initial squad should provide an early indication of how he intends to reshape the team.
Renard’s return also carries considerable symbolic significance. He remains closely associated with Cote d’Ivoire’s triumph at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, when he ended the Elephants’ 23-year wait for a second continental title.
Yet the circumstances have changed in the 11 years since that success. His reputation gives him considerable credit, but it does not guarantee that his second spell will be universally accepted or successful.
The schedule will give him little time to settle back into the role. Cote d’Ivoire face Ghana on 24 September before meeting Somalia in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
As a result, the first answers are likely to come before Renard’s team takes to the pitch. His list of players will offer an immediate indication of the identity and direction he wants for a new Cote d’Ivoire side.
Louis Mukoma Fargues