Herve Renard resigns from Morocco coaching job after AFCON flop

Herve Renard has announced his resignation as Morocco coach after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign that saw his side knocked out by Benin in the last 16.

“It is time for me to close this long and beautiful chapter of my life, not without some emotion and sadness, but it is an inevitable decision taken well before AFCON 2019,” said Renard in a statement. 

“Yes, we had all hoped better for this AFCON 2019. But this is football.”

The Frenchman had been in charge of Morocco since February 2016 and led the nation to their first World Cup in two decades in Russia last year.

However, their shock penalty shootout defeat to Benin came against a side reduced to 10 men in extra time and after Ajax star Hakim Ziyech slapped a spot-kick of his own against the post in the final seconds of normal time.

Renard has managed national teams across Africa and is the only coach to have won the Cup of Nations with two countries — Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast three years later.

Herve Renard has announced his resignation as Morocco coach after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign that saw his side knocked out by Benin in the last 16.

“It is time for me to close this long and beautiful chapter of my life, not without some emotion and sadness, but it is an inevitable decision taken well before AFCON 2019,” said Renard in a statement.

“Yes, we had all hoped better for this AFCON 2019. But this is football.”

The Frenchman had been in charge of Morocco since February 2016 and led the nation to their first World Cup in two decades in Russia last year.

However, their shock penalty shootout defeat to Benin came against a side reduced to 10 men in extra time and after Ajax star Hakim Ziyech slapped a spot-kick of his own against the post in the final seconds of normal time.

Renard has managed national teams across Africa and is the only coach to have won the Cup of Nations with two countries — Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast three years later.