Gerets intends to continue as Morocco coach after exit

Eric Gerets ponders his future with Morocco but keen to stay on

Morocco coach Eric Gerets says he will not resign after his team failed to make it to the last eight of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Morocco were effectively knocked out of the competition on Friday after losing 3-2 to co-hosts Gabon in a hard-fought encounter in Libreville

The Atlas Lions performed well in qualifying - beating their rivals Algeria 4-0 along the way - and were strongly-fancied to do well before the finals began.

But they lost their opening match 2-1 against Tunisia and then conceded a late goal against Gabon on Friday, which ended their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals.

"If they let me do my job I will continue," Gerets said.

"It's not up to me to take a decision, if they are not happy with my perfromance they will let me know.

"But I think for 15 months there is nobody who has talked about bad perfromances, bad coach.

"So it would be a little bit surprising if now from one moment to another it would happen."

Gerets, who was capped 86 times for Belgium, had signed a four-year contract in July 2010 leading up to the end of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The 58-year-old former defender says he understands if his fate as coach hangs in the balance.

"In my job it can happen because Monday you are the king and a day later you are not the king anymore," Gerets added.

"But as long as I am coach of the Morocco team I will take my responsibilty and I will try to go on with my philosophy in trying to make players better. And to play better football than we played against Tunisia and Gabon.

"I know my players are capable of doing it because they showed it several times in the past, so we'll see what happens."

Morocco play Niger in their final group match on Tuesday.

Both sides can no longer make it to the last eight.