African football talking points: Renard’s return, Queiroz’s exit and Nigeria’s setback

The opening rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying -- and the international friendlies that followed -- have left many of the continent's established contenders with plenty of areas to improve.

From Herve Renard's return to Carlos Queiroz's exit, head coaches have been high on the agenda during several weeks packed with controversy and storylines.

Here are our big talking points from African football during this extended international break.

Renard's second coming starts strongly

Eleven years after leading Ivory Coast to the AFCON title, Renard returned with two victories, two clean sheets, and evidence that his second stint with the Elephants will be more than just a nostalgic journey.

The 2-0 victory over Ghana in Bouake was more convincing than the triumph over Somalia, with debutant Malick Yalcouyé opening the scoring, but the West Africans nonetheless showcased their strength off the bench to down the obdurate Ocean Stars.

The new faces -- Yann Gboho also found the net -- were evidence of Renard's desire to refresh the squad, but the Frenchman must now focus on converting an excellent generation into tournament winners.

Six points represented the ideal start, with only seven other teams winning both of their opening games. Only two -- Guinea-Bissau and Morocco -- also did so without conceding.

Queiroz's departure could do Ghana a favour

Portuguese veteran Carlos Queiroz -- returning to the post after departing in the aftermath of their FIFA World Cup exit -- wasn't under pressure after that 2-0 defeat by the Elephants in Bouake, and had appeared to have turned things around in Accra as Ghana established a 2-0 lead against The Gambia.

However, after a remarkable collapse against the Scorpions, with the Black Stars falling to a 4-2 defeat, Queiroz was on the brink.

Fans harangued the coach during a poor second half, journalists confronted him in his post-match press conference, suggesting he'd be doing Ghana a favour if he left, and it wasn't long before the GFA published the veteran's farewell statement.

Queiroz aimed a shot at the federation on his way out, suggesting that "the necessary conditions were not fully established".

Whomever the country's football authorities turn to next will have a massive job on their hands to turn things around, end this disastrous AFCON run for the West African giants, and ensure they're at Pamoja '27 next year.

Nigeria's historic defeat

The Super Eagles have endured more than their fair share of embarrassing setbacks over the years, but the 3-0 humiliation in Guinea-Bissau belongs right up there.

It wasn't their worst in AFCON qualifying -- Zambia beat them 5-1 in 1973 -- while Algeria's 5-1 triumph at the 1990 Nations Cup was a more recent aberration.

However, given Nigeria's need to bounce back from failure to reach the World Cup, and given the optimism that had associated their run to the semifinals earlier this year, this was a particularly uncomfortable watch.

Goals from Franculino, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló were no less than the hosts deserved during a one-sided display, and without Victor Osimhen, Eric Chelle's team failed to ignite.

With AFCON hosts Tanzania also in their group, only one team will advance, and Nigeria now need a near-immaculate run, and potentially even a big home victory over Guinea-Bissau, to even qualify for the tournament itself.

Their come-from-behind 3-3 draw with Russia in this week's friendly should restore some optimism, although November double-header against Tanzania now takes on mammoth proportions.