Herve Renard named as Ivory Coast New coach.

Frenchman Herve Renard was named coach of Ivory Coast national team on Thursday, succeeding fellow countryman Sabri Lamouchi, who bowed out of the outfit after they failed to progress from the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Renard, 45, was selected from a three-man shortlist which also included former Sporting and Benfica coach Jose Manuel De Jesus from Portugal and Frederic Antonetti, who formerly coached French side Rennes.

The former defender, who led Zambia to victory against Ivory Coast at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nation in Gabon, has been tasked with qualifying the Elephants to the upcoming 2015 Afcon in Morocco.

Many locals and editorialists had rooted for Ivorian Francois Zahoui, whose application was kicked out in the first phase of screening along with 32 other candidates who applied for the job.

“Zahoui was the clear choice of many Ivorians because he had a wonderful run at the 2012 Afcon,” Serge Kanga, editor-in-chief of sports daily Fanon told supersport.com.