Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard admits that "it would be nice" if there were no more Europeans in charge of African national teams.

The charismatic Frenchman took over at the helm of the Elephants last year having previously won the 2012 Cup of Nations with Zambia.

He is one of 13 coaches from outside Africa to feature at this year's tournament in Equatorial Guinea, with only three coming from the continent itself.

And speaking ahead of his side's opening Group D game against Guinea in Malabo on Tuesday, Renard said: "I said one thing one day, and it goes against me, because I said that in sport, in general, each national team should have a coach from their own country.

"This is my opinion. Now I am working against myself by saying that because I have worked in a lot of different countries!

"But I think it would be good. So a lot of my colleagues will not be happy with that but I think it would be nice."

Honour Janza of Zambia, Florent Ibenge of DR Congo and Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba of South Africa are the only African coaches working at this year's tournament.