Herve Renard leaves Cote d'Ivoire post

Cote d'Ivoire football federation president Sidy Diallo has confirmed that national team coach Herve Renard has vacated his position.

Renard, 46, arrived in the country on Thursday and held talks with the football body, essentially to determine his release clause estimated to be around €400,000.

Renard, who led the Elephants to their second Africa Cup of Nations title early this year in Equatorial Guinea, had 18 months left on his contract.

Reports in France suggest that he is on the verge of joining Ligue 1 side Lille, who confirmed the departure of Rene Girard this week.

His assistant Patrice Beaumelle - who also worked with him when he won the Afcon title with Zambia - will also leave his post with Cote d'Ivoire.

Renard had earlier condemned a financial scandal involving bonuses for the Ivorian team following their Afcon victory, which local authorities confirmed were partially stolen.

"After waiting for an Afcon trophy all these years, it is a pity that those who worked for the recent victory can't get their reward," Renard said.