The French Football Federation has rejected moves by their Cote d’Ivoire counterparts to loan coach Harve Renard for the rest of their campaign in the African Cup of Nations tournament.
Renard who led the Elephants to winning the AFCON title in 2015 is coaching the French women national team preparing for the 2024 Olympics they are hosting. Cote d’Ivoire sacked their coach Jean Louis Gasset after they were beaten 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their last group A match. They also lost to the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but scrapped through to the round of 16 as one of the best losers.
They have a herculean tasking facing defending champions Senegal who won all their group matches on Monday. The Cote d’Ivoire Football Federation called on the Frenchman who is currently in the country as guest of the government for the duration of the AFCON tournament, to be on the sidelines as the Elephants try to redeem themselves with an upset win against Senegal who are favourites to win the AFCON.
However, he needed the agreement of the FFF, who confirmed to the AFP news agency that it had turned down the request from Ivory Coast. Renard is under contract with the FFF through to the end of this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, and Les Bleus also have a Uefa Women’s Nations League semi-final against Germany in Lyon on 23 February.
The Elephants are now banking on former international Emerse Fae to guide them to victory.
Cote d'Ivoire days...Renard can't be loaned