Alain Giresse was named new coach of Senegal’s senior national football team on Wednesday.
The former French international replaced Joseph Koto who, along with assistant Karim Sega Diouf had been sacked 10 days after the violence-tainted 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast.
The Teranga Lions were formally disqualified from the 2013 Nations Cup by the Confederation of African Football in October and Ivory Coast advanced with a 6-2 aggregate. Koto had only been in charge of the Teranga Lions for four months.
Giresse’s experience in Africa is not doubted. He has been in charge of Gabon and Mali before.
At last year’s Afcon in west Africa, the 60-year-old led Mali to third place before departing in May after refusing a new contract.
Reporters indicate that Giresse agreed a two-year contract. His first competitive match in charge will be a 2014 World Cup qualifier at home to Angola on 22 March.
It made its first World Cup in 2002 and caused a huge upset by defeating world and European champions France 1–0 in the tournament’s opening game.
In the frame is also a clash with Uganda Cranes as they seek to return to the global showpiece. The Cranes held Senegal to a 1-all draw after Godfrey Walusimbi’s late strike from 12 yards cancelled Demba Ba’s early strike.