Duarte takes over as Gabon coach

Paulo Duarte was fired as Burkina Faso coach

Paulo Duarte has been appointed coach of Gabon on a two-year contract.

The 43-year-old Portuguese replaces Gernot Rohr, the German who led the team at this year's African Nations Cup they co-hosted with Equatorial Guinea.

Despite guiding the team to the quarrter-finals, where they lost on penalties to Mali, Rohr was allowed to leave apparently because of his poor relations with members of the squad.

Duarte himself was fired as Burkina Faso coach after the Nations Cup.

He parted ways with the Stallions following the team's failure to progress from the group stage.

The Portuguese beat off opposition from former French club PSG coach Antoine Kombouare to land the Gabon job.

Also in the running were former France international striker Jean-Pierre Papin and the experienced Frenchman Bruno Metsu.

"I'm glad, it's a good project," Duatre said.

"I'm taking over as a coach and technical director, responsible for all training, with the freedom to organise and oversee the national teams in the country."

Duarte spent four years at the helm of the Stallions, qualifying them to two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations - 2010 and 2012.

His first competitive match will be the 2014 World Cup qualifier agaisnt Niger on 1 June.