A major coaching reshuffle is sweeping through African football following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Cape Verde’s Bubista leaving his national team role for Moroccan club RS Berkane, while Ivory Coast has turned to Herve Renard for a second spell as head coach.
Bubista ended a successful six-year tenure with Cape Verde after leading the Blue Sharks to the last 32 of the World Cup, where they narrowly lost 3-2 to eventual runners-up Argentina after extra time.
The 56-year-old also guided Cape Verde to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, helping establish the island nation as one of Africa’s emerging football powers.
He has signed a two-year contract with RS Berkane, replacing Moin Chaabani, who recently became Tunisia’s head coach.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, has reappointed Herve Renard, the French coach who led the Elephants to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Renard returns after the Ivorians decided not to renew Emerse Fae’s contract following their 2-1 World Cup defeat to Norway in the last 32.
The 57-year-old is one of Africa’s most successful international coaches, having also guided Zambia to the 2012 AFCON title and managed Morocco, Saudi Arabia, France’s women’s team and Tunisia.
His return comes after Fae, who took charge during the 2023 AFCON, led Ivory Coast to a dramatic home triumph after the team recovered from a difficult start to the tournament.
Bubista’s departure adds to a growing list of coaching changes among African nations that participated in the World Cup.
Algeria and Vladimir Petkovic have parted ways by mutual consent, South Africa’s Hugo Broos has retired after his contract expired, and Senegal dismissed Pape Thiaw following the Teranga Lions’ last-32 elimination.
Tunisia has already appointed Chaabani on a four-year deal, while discussions continue within the Ghana Football Association over the future of Carlos Queiroz, who led the Black Stars to the last 32 before their defeat to Colombia.
The latest appointments signal a new phase for African football as several countries begin rebuilding their national teams ahead of the next continental and international competitions.
