Sports news in Ivory Coast reports a new disappointment for football supporters. Indeed, the organizers of the African Cup of Nations have failed to secure the coach of the French women’s team, Hervé Renard, on loan for the remainder of the competition.
Hervé Renard, who led the Ivorian national team during its victory as African champion in 2015, was strongly requested by the Ivorian football federation to try once again to win this title, after the dismissal of Jean- Louis Gasset last week.
Unfortunately, negotiations between the French federation and the Ivorian federation did not result in an agreement last Thursday. Hervé Renard told Canal Plus: “The negotiations did not end favorably, and this is due to the fact that it was not necessary. I would have liked to come back, but fate decided otherwise.”
Ivory Coast, who had struggled in the group stage with a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, still had a chance to qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams in the tournament. Finally, the team qualified last Wednesday thanks to Morocco’s victory against Zambia.
In the meantime, interim coach Emerse Faé will continue to lead the team for the match against reigning champions Senegal next Monday in Yamoussoukro. The Ivorian football federation has not yet made an official comment on the situation.
Hervé Renard nevertheless remains highly appreciated in Ivory Coast for having led the team to its second victory at the African Cup. He also won that title with Zambia in 2012. Before taking charge of the French women’s team last year, he led Saudi Arabia to a surprise World Cup victory over eventual champions Argentina.
This new disillusionment for Ivorian supporters is a hard blow, but the team remains determined to do its best to go as far as possible in the competition. The next matches will therefore be crucial for their journey to the African Cup of Nations.