African Roundup

Frenchman Stephan named new Senegal coach

DAKAR (Reuters) -- Frenchman Guy Stephan has agreed to coach Senegal's national team for the next three years, the country's football federation said on Thursday.

"Guy Stephan and the president of Senegal's football federation reached an agreement yesterday in Paris," federation spokesman Alioune Tall told Reuters.

Stephan would start his new job in mid-December, he said. His contract would run through the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia and the qualifying matches for the Cup's 2006 edition.

The 45-year-old was an assistant coach with the France side at this year's World Cup finals, where Senegal upset the defending champions in the opening match of the tournament.

He is a former coach of Olympique Lyon and Girondins Bordeaux and as a player was on the books at En Avant Guingamp, Stade Rennes and Le Havre.

Senegal parted ways with another Frenchman, Bruno Metsu, after reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup in June.

Nigeria coach unfazed by 0-0 draw against Jamaica

LAGOS (Reuters) -- Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu said he was not disappointed with his side's performance in their goalless draw in Wednesday's friendly against Jamaica.

"The overall objective matters and I'm happy everyone showed what they can do," Chukwu told reporters in Lagos on Thursday.

"I'm building my team gradually and now I'm able to see who can play alongside the established players."

The Nigerian side, without several key players, were largely uninspiring and their every move in the second half was roundly booed by the spectators.

Assistant coach Austin Eguavoen said he was disappointed with the attitude of the Lagos crowd.

"We may not have satisfied the fans but they must always support the team whether in good or bad times," he told Reuters.

The Jamaicans attributed their performance to the pitch, which they described as "terrible."

"Yeah, we didn't play well but we all condemned the playing ground," said England-based Jermaine Johnson, as the team prepared to depart Lagos.

Chukwu said his rebuilding plans following the Nigerians' first round exit from the World Cup would continue on Monday when his team take on Egypt in another friendly at the same venue.

Coulibaly's two late goals sink Morocco

RABAT (Reuters) -- Drama Coulibaly hit two goals in the last five minutes to lead Mali to a 3-1 victory over Morocco in their friendly international on Wednesday.

Morocco's defeat was their first since Badou Zaki took over as coach in September.

The home team, who had won their previous four matches under Zaki, welcomed playmaker Mustapha Hadji back to the side and took an early lead thanks to a fourth-minute goal from striker Rachid Rokki.

But Jibril Sidibey equalized with a 22-metre shot in the 55th minute and Coulibaly secured victory for Mali with two goals in the 88th and 93rd minutes, one coming from a neat flick over the head of Morocco goalkeeper Abdelilah Bagui.

 

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