Morocco appoint coach

2010 World/Africa Cup qualifiers May 30 Rwanda v Mauritania June 7 Ethiopia v Rwanda June 14 Rwanda v Morocco June 21 Morocco v Rwanda September 7 Mauritania v Rwanda October 12 Ethiopia v Rwanda Rwanda’s opponents in group eight of the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifiers, Morocco has appointed Roger Lemerre as their new head coach. Lemerre, who is currently in charge of Tunisia team will officially start job with the Atlas Lions on July 1. This means Lemerre will not be in charge of the Atlas Lions’ first four 2010 World Cup qualifying games, which take place in June. His contract with Tunisia will expire at the end of June. Acting Morocco coach, Fathi Jamal, who led Morocco to a 4-1 win over Belgium in March, will continue as interim coach until Lemerre takes over. Morocco will face Ethiopia, Rwanda and Mauritania in the group eight World/Africa Cup qualifiers. Morocco plays away to Rwanda in Kigali before hosting them back the following week in Rabat. Lemerre takes over from fellow Frenchman Henri Michel who was sacked after Morocco failed to progress beyond the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. The Frenchman has been in charge of Tunisia since 2002, defeating Rwanda 2-1 in group stages and went on to win the Nations Cup on home soil in 2004, and most recently leading them to the quarter-finals of the 2008 tournament. The 66-year-old also won the European Championship with France in 2000, leading the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry to glory. But his teams have failed to shine at the World Cup - both France and Tunisia crashed out at the group stages in 2002 and 2006 respectively. Ends

Lifestyle

Morocco appoint coach