M'hamed Fakher is new coach of Moroccan national football team

03/01/2006

After coaching the Moroccan national football team for two months, Frenchman Philippe Troussier has ended his employment with the Moroccan Football Federation only three weeks before the finals of the 2006 African Nations Cup in Egypt.

By Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 03/01/06

[File] Fakher has to quickly prepare his team for African Nations Cup.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and national team coach Philippe Troussier of France have ended their relationship amicably. According to FRMF Vice President Mohamed Aouzal, the federation "had widely differing views from him, and unfortunately could not allow this to continue. An amicable agreement was reached."

Troussier took the post on 29 October 2005, as a replacement for Badou Zaki, who had resigned on 17 October. Under the terms of his four-year contract, Troussier took control of the A and B national teams and supervised selections to both sides. He was contractually obligated to lead Morocco to the 2008 African Nations Cup and 2010 World Cup finals.

Troussier selected 34 professional players for a friendly against Cameroon played on 15 November just outside Paris as part of preparations for the 2006 African Nations Cup. The game ended 0-0. At the end of November, Troussier organised a training course for players in the national championship to test their abilities.

New Moroccan coach M'hamed Fakher, who was officially confirmed to the post Saturday (31 December) said that his "first task will be to create a national team to fulfil the expectations of Moroccan sports fans".

Regarding preparations for the African Nations Cup, Fakher said the biggest of several challenges to be faced are "the short time available for preparation" and "the players' lack of competitive experience", having only played the Cameroon match since the qualifying rounds for African Nations and the 2006 World Cup. He added that 90 per cent of the roster in Egypt would be made up of those who had played in the qualifying rounds "because they know each other well and are of the same standard".