Ziyech In, Saïss Out: Renard's Dream XI Sparks Debate
Hervé Renard's dream XI of African stars he's coached is causing quite the stir, not least for who he chose, but for who he left out.
In a podcast with L'Équipe , the French manager said that Moroccan playmaker Hakim Ziyech could be top class: 'If he's at the level he showed at the 2022 World Cup, he's an exceptional player.'
Ziyech, alongside Mehdi Benatia, Achraf Hakimi, and Noussair Mazraoui, all made Renard's line-up.
Renard, who managed Morocco from 2016 to 2019, guided the team through the 2018 World Cup and two AFCON campaigns.
But eyebrows were raised at the absence of other African stars he once championed. Asamoah Gyan, Serge Aurier, Romain Saïss, Sofiane Boufal, and Idrissa Gueye were all left out, despite being pivotal in their national teams during Renard's tenure.
Gyan's omission is the most glaring. Despite Renard having served as Ghana's assistant coach during the striker's prime, he didn't even mention this national icon and AFCON hero.
The exclusion of Zambia's AFCON 2012 winners, barring a brief nod to Sunzu, also rankled. Renard, dubbed 'The Fox' for his tactical savvy, led Zambia and Ivory Coast to continental glory, but his selection seems to rewrite parts of his history. Tags: Hakim ZiyechHerve Renardromain saiss
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