ABIDJAN, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced Tuesday that it has reappointed France's Herve Renard as head coach of the Cote d'Ivoire national team, marking the start of his second spell in charge of the Elephants.

Renard, who is expected to arrive in Abidjan in the coming days to formally begin work, previously guided Cote d'Ivoire to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title, ending the country's 23-year wait for a continental crown.

The 57-year-old succeeds Emerse Fae, whose contract expired on July 31 and was not renewed despite leading the Elephants to a dramatic triumph on home soil at the 2023 AFCON. Fae also oversaw Cote d'Ivoire's best-ever FIFA World Cup performance, with the team reaching the knockout stage for the first time before being eliminated in the round of 32 at the 2026 tournament.

Renard is one of Africa's most decorated international coaches. In addition to his success with Cote d'Ivoire, he has also led Zambia to a shock Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012 and coached Morocco and Saudi Arabia at World Cups. He most recently managed the France women's national team.

According to the federation, Renard's appointment reflects its determination to build on the national team's recent progress and strengthen its ambitions in African and international competitions.