Hervé Renard, the current coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, is set to face Ivory Coast in a friendly match, marking a reunion with the team he led to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) title. The match is scheduled to take place in September 2026, according to reports from multiple football media outlets.
Renard guided the Ivorian national team to their second CAN title in 2015, defeating Ghana in the final on penalties. That victory remains a significant achievement in Ivorian football history. Since then, Renard has also coached Morocco and France's women's team before taking charge of Saudi Arabia in 2024.
The upcoming friendly will be the first meeting between Renard and the Ivorian team since he left his post in 2015. The match is part of the international break in September, and both teams are expected to use it as preparation for their respective upcoming competitions.
Ivory Coast, who won the 2023 CAN on home soil, will be looking to test themselves against a Saudi side that has shown progress under Renard's leadership. The friendly also offers Renard a chance to measure his current squad against a strong African opponent.
