Hervé Renard confirmed his Côte d'Ivoire squad is fully fit ahead of the Somalia match, with only minor bruises remaining from their Ghana victory. The French coach told reporters on 28 September 2026 that the group arrives at full strength for this second qualifier.
Renard intends to maintain the same demands that produced the opening win while making tactical adjustments. "There will certainly be some changes, but don't expect upheaval. Things will build little by little," he said, emphasizing the need to balance bringing in new players like Yann Gboho and Patrick Zabi with relying on the squad's experience. Malick Yalcouyé, who scored on his debut against Ghana, illustrates how integration should happen progressively.
The objective is clear: continue the momentum and secure another victory. Renard stressed consistency matters most. "The most important thing in football is being constant and regular. That's how we progress and become increasingly ambitious," he stated. The current international window offers more opportunities to give new players playing time. Renard also noted that Gambia won their opener, making the Group C picture more competitive than it initially appears.