Herve Renard Declares Morocco and Senegal as Africa's Best in Soccer

WHO:

[Source: AfricaSoccer.com] - Herve Renard is the head coach of Ivory Coast and a former coach of Morocco.

[Source: Goal.com] - Patrick Vieira has been chosen to lead the Senegal national team.

WHAT:

[Source: AfricaSoccer.com] - Renard praised Morocco as a benchmark for African football after analyzing performances at the 2026 World Cup.

[Source: AfricaSoccer.com] - Africa had a record 10 representatives in the first round of the 2026 World Cup, with nine reaching the knockout stage.

[Source: AfricaSoccer.com] - Morocco became the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals in two consecutive World Cups.

[Source: Goal.com] - Renard stated, "I believe Morocco today is the number one team in Africa in international competitions."

[Source: Goal.com] - Morocco reached the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup and the quarter-final in 2026, ending their run with a 0-2 defeat to France.

WHERE:

[Source: AfricaSoccer.com] - The matches for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying will take place in Bouake and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

WHEN:

[Source: AfricaSoccer.com] - Ivory Coast will face Ghana on September 24, 2026, and Somalia on September 29, 2026. A friendly match against Cameroon is scheduled for October 3, 2026.

WHY:

[Source: AfricaSoccer.com] - Renard attributed Morocco's success to differences in mentality, ambition, and infrastructure compared to other African teams.

[Source: Goal.com] - Renard emphasized that Morocco's rise is due to long-term work and investment in infrastructure and organization.

HOW:

[Source: Goal.com] - Renard noted that Morocco has a system and organization of the highest level, lacking nothing compared to the best teams in the world.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 02:02 UTC)

Herve Renard, the head coach of Ivory Coast and a former coach of Morocco, recently praised Morocco as a benchmark for African football after their impressive performances at the 2026 World Cup, where they became the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals in two consecutive tournaments. Meanwhile, Patrick Vieira has been appointed to lead the Senegal national team, as Africa prepares for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying matches in Bouake and Abidjan, with Ivory Coast set to face Ghana on September 24, 2026, and Somalia on September 29, 2026. Renard attributes Morocco's success to a superior mentality, ambition, and infrastructure, stating that the nation has a system and organization that stands at the highest level, comparable to the best teams in the world.