ACTUALITE |
18.07.2002
As Metsu departs, other French coaches seek glory in Africa
JOHANNESBURG
As highly acclaimed French coach Bruno Metsu departs the African stage, three compatriots have been given national posts on the continent.
Burkina Faso named Jean-Paul Rabier coach and Franck Tanasi his assistant in succession to Jacques Yameogo and Pihouri Weboanga, who failed to take the `Stallions` beyond the first round of the 2002 African Nations Cup.
And surprise Nations Cup semi-finalists and hosts Mali filled the gap created by the departure of Franco-Pole Henri Kasperczak with the appointment of Christian Dalger.
The Burkinabe football federation said in Ouagadougou that Rabier and Tanasi had signed 13-month contracts that would be extended if the West African country qualifies for the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia.
Drawn with Congo, Mozambique and the Central African Republic in the mini-league qualifying competition, the Frenchmen have reason for optimism, although a new format means only group winners are certain of places.
Rabier and Tanasi have played at the highest level in France and the former gained coaching experience with several second division clubs.
Former French international Dalger has a much tougher act to follow as Kasperczak became a national hero in Mali after surpassing expectations by taking the `Eagles` to fourth place behind Cameroon, Senegal and Nigeria.
Previously coach of Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Morocco, the former Poland World Cup player quit to take charge of Wisla Krakow after spending many years working in Africa and the Middle East.
Even as Mali celebrated last February in an unprecedented show of national euphoria, sceptics said the good showing was due more to home advantage and fanatical followers than gifted footballers.
A qualifying route to Tunisia that includes Zimbabwe, Eritrea and Seychelles offers Dalger and his squad a chance to prove that recent results were no flash in the pan.
Zimbabwe are perennial underachievers long overdue a change of fortune while African giants Cameroon and Nigeria failed to score when held on a notorious bumpy pitch in Eritrea.
After turning Senegal from African also-rans to World Cup quarter-finalists in less than two years, flamboyant Metsu accepted an offer to coach Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates.
The Frenchman hoped to return to the West African country after a one-year contract, but the Senegalese Football Federation signalled Tuesday that the Metsu era was over.
Abdoulaye Sarr and Jules Bocande, assistants to Metsu at the African Nations Cup and World Cup, have been put in charge pending the appointment of "a coach of high quality with a good knowledge of professional football".
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