Bubista has resigned as Cape Verde manager to take charge of Moroccan club RS Berkane, while Ivory Coast have reappointed Herve Renard for a second spell as head coach.
The 56-year-old led Cape Verde to the last 32 of last month’s World Cup, where the Blue Sharks were beaten 3-2 by eventual runners-up Argentina after extra time.
Bubista had been in charge since January 2020 and also guided the island nation to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
He has agreed a two-year contract with RS Berkane, who finished second in the Moroccan top flight last season. Bubista succeeds Moin Chaabani, who left the club to become Tunisia’s new head coach.
RS Berkane are based in north-east Morocco and have established themselves as a successful club in recent years, despite not traditionally being regarded as one of the country’s biggest sides.
They won their first domestic league title in 2024-25 and have lifted the Caf Confederation Cup, Africa’s second-tier continental club competition, three times.
The club became involved in controversy in 2024 after wearing a Confederation Cup shirt featuring a map of Morocco that included the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Bubista’s achievements with Cape Verde had raised his standing across African football. The country’s football federation thanked him for his “dedication, professionalism, and contribution to the development of the national team’s sporting project” and wished him “much success” in his future endeavours.
Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup for the first time, finishing ahead of Cameroon, and the debutants emerged as the underdog story of this year’s tournament.
Renard returns to Ivory Coast
Renard has won the Africa Cup of Nations twice as a manager. He led Zambia to a surprise title in 2012 before guiding Ivory Coast to the trophy in 2015.
Ivory Coast have turned to the Frenchman again after deciding not to renew Emerse Fae’s contract when it expired at the end of last month. The Elephants were beaten 2-1 by Norway in the last 32 of the World Cup.
Fae, a former Nantes and Reading midfielder, took charge midway through the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after Ivory Coast failed in an attempt to reappoint Renard. The tournament hosts went on to win the competition following a remarkable run through the knockout stages.
Renard left Ivory Coast in May 2015 and has since managed Morocco, Saudi Arabia on two occasions and France’s women’s team. He was also in charge of Tunisia for two matches at this year’s World Cup.
The duration of Renard’s new contract has not been announced. The 57-year-old is expected to arrive in Abidjan “in the coming days” to begin his official duties.
Further African managerial changes
Bubista is the latest coach to depart one of the 10 African teams that competed at the World Cup.
Algeria and Vladimir Petkovic parted company by mutual consent on Monday after the Desert Foxes were eliminated by Switzerland in the last 32. The 62-year-old Bosnian had been appointed in February 2024 and extended his contract until 2028 earlier this year.
Hugo Broos also left his position as South Africa manager when his contract expired at the end of July. The 74-year-old decided to retire from management.
Senegal dismissed Pape Thiaw after their dramatic last-32 defeat by Belgium. The country’s football federation said the decision was made “in the best interests of Senegalese football”. Former France and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has been linked with the vacancy.
Tunisia appointed Chaabani on a four-year contract last month. The 45-year-old replaced Renard, who had taken charge of the Carthage Eagles after one match of their Group F campaign, following Sabri Lamouchi’s removal after a 5-1 defeat by Sweden.
Discussions are continuing within the Ghana Football Association after Carlos Queiroz led the Black Stars to the last 32, where they lost 1-0 to Colombia. Queiroz appeared to announce his own departure on social media shortly after the defeat.
