XALIMANEWS-New coach of the Saudi Arabian team for a little over a week, when he was expected to be on the bench of the Teranga Lions, Hervé Renard explained the reasons for his non-come to the champions of Africa 2022.
Frenchman Hervé Renard was expected to take over as head of the Senegal team, the Lions of Teranga, after the departure of Aliou Cissé, whose contract was not renewed on October 2. However, despite discussions and speculation around his possible appointment, the double African champion technician with Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015), who had proposed his candidacy at the microphone of “World Africa”, ultimately declined this offer to accept a coaching position in Saudi Arabia
Previously coach of the French women’s team, Renard is described as having a good knowledge of the Senegalese environment, having lived in the country for some time.
Although he considered the possibility of taking possession of the Teranga Lions bench, Hervé Renard ultimately withdrew from the race.
The reason for his withdrawal is linked to the impossibility of integrating Omar Daf, a former assistant to Aliou Cissé (between 2016 and 2017), into his technical staff. Omar Daf, who currently plays for Amiens in Ligue 2, was a key figure he wanted to include, but this option could not materialize. “There were discussions. I had one wish, to have Omar Daf, a former Senegalese international, as my assistant. But Omar is the coach of Amiens, in Ligue 2. And this condition was not immediately possible to fulfill. I have therefore decided at this precise moment to withdraw my application”confided the 56-year-old technician who also expressed regret.
Renard preferred to join the Saudi Arabian team rather than lead the Teranga Lions, due to this constraint linked to his staff. This detail, although it may seem minor, had an impact on his decision, demonstrating that organizational and personal factors play an important role in the choice of coaches for high-level positions.
