Côte d’Ivoire - Ghana: “The favorites are favorites on paper,” Hervé Renard warns

In his first match since returning, Hervé Renard is wary of a disciplined Ghana side that is dangerous on the counter

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Côte d’Ivoire - Ghana: “The favorites are favorites on paper,” Hervé Renard warns

24.09.26 15:00 AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

Ivory Coast

Ghana

Hervé Renard returns to the Côte d’Ivoire bench against Ghana and insists on humility, discipline and the importance of making a good start to the qualifiers.

Eleven years after leading Ivory Coast to continental glory, Hervé Renard is preparing to lead the Elephants once again. His first match since returning will take place this Thursday, September 24, 2026, against Ghana at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, as part of the first round of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. GMT.

On the eve of this highly anticipated clash, the French coach was particularly wary of the Black Stars.

“Ghana is a great African team that performed well at the 2026 World Cup, including in a great match against England. They are a very disciplined team that waits to counter at the slightest opening, with a great coach. This is a major fixture in African football, and we will have to be ready,” he explained at a press conference.

Renard warns: “The favorites are favorites on paper”

The Côte d’Ivoire manager also stressed the details that could decide the outcome of this match.

“When two great teams play each other, the match will be decided by details. But we have enough character to approach it properly.”

He added, however, that this would now have to be demonstrated on the pitch.

Above all, Renard refuses to regard this opening match as decisive.

“There are six matches to play. Sometimes you lose the first match and then win all the others. So in football, nothing is ever written in advance. We know very well that every opponent in this group will give everything to qualify for this Africa Cup. So we must show humility. The favorites are favorites on paper; qualification is won on the pitch. And to give ourselves the best possible chance, we must be ready tomorrow.”

Franck Kessié reassures over his fitness

Speaking alongside his manager, Franck Kessié also stressed how difficult the fixture will be.

“Of course, when you play Ghana, it’s a derby. Ghana is also a great African football nation, with some very, very good players. We are not going to rush things, as the coach pointed out. We have to be ready.”

Having returned to Atalanta on August 29 with a multi-year contract, the Côte d’Ivoire captain believes he already has sufficient match rhythm:

“I have already played three matches, so I think that if I wasn’t physically ready, the coach wouldn’t have called me up. So if I am here, it means I am physically ready.”

His experience will be a major asset for a squad rejuvenated by the new manager.

A first 25-player squad for Hervé Renard

Hervé Renard was officially appointed manager of Côte d’Ivoire on August 4, 2026, replacing Émerse Faé. The Frenchman, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with the Elephants in 2015 after previously winning AFCON 2012 with Zambia, is therefore beginning his second spell in charge of the Côte d’Ivoire national team.

For this first camp, he selected 25 players, including eight new faces. His first squad since returning notably opened the door to several young players, including Christ Tapé, Kassoum Ouattara, Malick Yalcouyé, Patrick Zabi, Eddy Doué, Amadou Koné, Yann Gboho and Rayan Fofana.

The Elephants’ schedule will not end with the clash against Ghana. Côte d’Ivoire will then travel to face Somalia on September 29 in the second round of qualifying, before concluding this international window with a friendly against Cameroon on October 3 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpé. These three matches will already allow Renard to lay the first foundations of his new cycle.