Arab Cup Prep: Renard Lines Up the Greens for a Crucial Winter Run

Arab Cup Prep Takes Center Stage as Renard Balances Workload and Talent

French coach Hervé Renard, head coach of Saudi Arabia, stressed that the upcoming friendly against Ivory Coast is a significant part of the national team's preparation for the Arab Cup.

Saudi Arabia will face Ivory Coast at Al-Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah before meeting Algeria on Tuesday, November 18, at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.

Arab Cup preparation is Renard’s current focus as he plots a path that keeps momentum while safeguarding players for the longer term.

"We have the Arab Cup and it is an important milestone in our journey; we will then return to domestic competitions without interruptions and we will work on players’ physical condition," Renard said during the pre-match press conference for the Ivory Coast friendly.

"November brings its own challenges because it comes after the season starts; it is crucial we care for our players and avoid taking risks," he added.

"We will face strong opponents and try to vary our friendlies; we have a very strong tournament coming up in a few months (World Cup 2026) and we want to be ready for it," he noted, outlining the broader timetable beyond the immediate match.

He explained that the squad list would be finalized around November 29 for players set to feature on the 28th in the King's Cup, while those who play on the 29th would join on the second day, with about 90% of the final Arab Cup squad in place.

Renard highlighted the positive early impressions of Saud Abdul Hamid (Lens) and Marwan Al-Sahafi (Royal Antwerp), stressing that moving to such leagues tests players at a high level, which can be tough but beneficial for growth.

He reminded observers that coaches in his environment often know little about Saudi players initially and require time to be convinced of their performances, particularly Saud Abdul Hamid, who plays for a club near the top of Ligue 1’s standings and faces stiff competition.

Renard added that he has monitored the newcomers for a long time but expects consistency, as some players shine briefly before fading from the radar.

He also praised Walid Al-Ahmad for maturity and noted Morad Hosawi and Mandoosh as promising talents; he sees this as the right moment for them to establish themselves in the national team’s plans this season.

New names entering the Falcons’ setup are described as a sign of vibrant competition as Saudi Arabia’s program eyes the next steps in its build toward major events.

The Saudi side will face a high-caliber test against Ivory Coast, in a preparation match that the national press calls a first-ever meeting at any level between the two nations.

Renard plans to use the match to gauge a number of players and how well they implement his ideas on the pitch ahead of a busy period ahead.

Ivory Coast’s record in friendlies shows a long tradition of preparation alongside Saudi Arabia’s footprint in international football, with lists of results reflecting a packed international calendar and a readiness to test new combinations.

The latest training session in the run-up to the Ivory Coast clash featured ball retention drills and set-piece work, with a focus on organization and partial-team work on a reduced field.

During the session, Saudi stars Saoud Al-Dawsari and Hassan Qaddesh participated, while Jihad Dakri sat out with knee discomfort, Ziad Aljahni was sidelined by a cold, and Abdulrahman Al-Aboud did not complete the session due to muscular pain.

The team is scheduled to finish its preparations with one more session ahead of the Ivory Coast friendly and to fine-tune the tactical plan for the encounter.

Renard’s ledger against Ivory Coast is notably favorable; this will be his sixth meeting against the Elephants, after five prior encounters with Zambia and Morocco in which he earned three wins and two draws.

The first ever meeting between Renard and Ivory Coast dates back to 2012 when he was in charge of Zambia and helped secure the Africa Cup of Nations title after a dramatic penalties shootout (8-7) following a 0-0 final, a result counted as a draw in the official head-to-head record.

With Morocco in 2017, Renard faced Ivory Coast four additional times. The head-to-head began with a World Cup qualifying draw in 2017, followed by a 2-0 away win, and AFCON 2017’s 1-0 victory, with similar outcomes in the 2019 group stage, underscoring Renard’s record against a strong Elephants side.