Cape Verde coach Bubista quits for RS Berkane as Ivory Coast bring back Herve Renard
On 4 August 2026 Cape Verde head coach Bubista resigned to take charge of Moroccan club RS Berkane and Ivory Coast announced the return of Herve Renard, moves made in the aftermath of this year’s World Cup.
Bubista, 56, had been in post since January 2020 and spent six and a half years leading Cape Verde, taking the team to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and guiding the island nation to the World Cup last month.
Bubista has signed a two-year contract with RS Berkane, who finished second in the Moroccan top flight last season, and he replaces Moin Chaabani, who has been appointed Tunisia’s new head coach.
Renard, 57, returns to Ivory Coast having won the Africa Cup of Nations twice as a coach, including with the Elephants in 2015, and after previously leading Zambia to the 2012 title; since leaving Ivory Coast in May 2015 he has had spells with Morocco, Saudi Arabia (twice) and France’s women and was in the dugout for Tunisia for two games at this year’s World Cup.
RS Berkane, from the north-east of Morocco, won their first domestic league title in 2024-25 and are three-time winners of the Caf Confederation Cup; the club also attracted controversy in 2024 by wearing a shirt in the Confederation Cup that featured a map of Morocco including the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup for the first time ahead of Cameroon and were widely seen as the tournament’s underdog story; the national federation thanked Bubista for his "dedication, professionalism, and contribution to the development of the national team's sporting project" before wishing him "much success" in his future endeavours.
Bubista is the latest coach to leave one of the 10 African sides that appeared at the World Cup: Vladimir Petkovic parted company with Algeria by mutual consent on Monday after extending his contract until 2028 earlier this year; Hugo Broos stepped down as South Africa boss when his contract expired at the end of July and announced his retirement; Senegal sacked Pape Thiaw after their last-32 exit to Belgium, with the federation saying the decision was "in the best interests of Senegalese football" and the Teranga Lions have been linked with Patrick Vieira; Tunisia appointed Chaabani on a four-year deal last month after he replaced Renard mid-tournament when Sabri Lamouchi was removed following a 5-1 defeat by Sweden, and internal discussions continue at the Ghana Football Association after Carlos Queiroz’s side lost 1-0 to Colombia in the last 32 and he appeared to announce his own departure on social media.
The length of Renard’s contract with Ivory Coast has not been disclosed, and the French coach is expected in Abidjan "in the coming days" to take up his official duties.
