Herve Renard used to talk, partly in jest, partly to please the media, about his “lucky” white shirt. Crisp, well-tailored, he was recognised for his attire — always the same shirt — on the touchlines of Africa Cup of Nations even before he was better known for his Midas touch.

Renard has been the winning manager at two of the last three tournaments, and on Tuesday he has the opportunity to advance his case for a possible hat-trick in Gabon, and to do so with what will seem like a particular ruthlessness.

Renard is in charge of Morocco, the third different African national team he has managed, and if Morocco beat Ivory Coast in Oyem, he will guarantee a place in the quarter-finals at the expense of the Ivorians. The holders would thus tumble out, just as the hosts, Gabon, already have at the group phase. One or two eyebrows would be raised about hierarchies being upended, forecasts defied.

Renard might raise a single quizzical eyebrow, but, as he has made his reputation by consistently challenging the continent’s status quo, he will be cool in his analyses.

Renard, 48, is the man who guided Zambia to their first ever triumph in the event, in 2012. He stayed in the job for an unsuccessful defence and then moved on to manage the Ivory Coast, tasked with taking a richly talented squad beyond the stubborn rut of near-misses and underachieving that had deprived them of the continental prize.

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Renard’s lucky white shirt absorbed some perspiration on the night in Equatorial Guinea when the Ivory Coast at last broke their bad habits, via a penalty shoot-out, to win the 2015 final.

The Ivorians he confronts now are significantly altered, no longer the group in which Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure galvanised the dressing-room and Gervinho danced down the flanks. Yet there are several of Renard’s champions still among them, like Eric Bailly, Serge Aurier, Wilfried Bony and the ageless Salomon Kalou.

Two months ago, Morocco played Ivory Coast in a World Cup qualifier, a 0-0 draw. “It was emotional to see them again,” Renard said. “But I try to forget all that.”

What he will not wipe from his memory is the template he followed in his two success so far at Nations Cups. Morocco began this one with a defeat, to a DR Congo who top the group but who could still be pushed back into third place if they lose to Togo. The Moroccans then showed a marked improvement in beating Togo 3-1 in their second match.

Renard had made changes, and was especially satisfied with his team’s effectiveness from set-pieces. His introduction of Faycal Fajr, the Deportivo La Coruna playmaker, to the starting XI was key to that, Fajr delivering the passes for the two goals that turned a 1-0 deficit against Togo into a winning scoreline.

“Sometimes, at an Africa Cup of Nations, you have to respond to setbacks and just stay solid,” Renard said of Morocco’s tournament so far. “I remember with Ivory Coast last time, we only drew our first two matches and then went through with a 1-0 win the last group game.”

The Ivorians have again followed that pattern, with draws against Togo and DR Congo, the latter 2-2 after twice falling behind. Michel Dussuyer, Renard’s French compatriot and his successor as Ivory Coast manager, likes to think his team are pacing themselves.

“It is s similar situation to the last Nations Cup, and so I hope history can repeat itself,” he said. “But we are in no doubt we are playing the equivalent of a final against Morocco.”

Renard may have the superior touchline know-how — and indeed a lucky garment — but the new-look Ivory Coast, even without their celebrated superstars of the past, have more big-match pedigree spread through the squad.

Aurier, the defender from French champions Paris Saint-Germain, acknowledged there was nervousness among Ivorian supporters about the team’s delicate position, but insisted: “All the noise is coming from outside. We are feeling calm.”

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