Muianga appointed Mozambique coach

Johannesburg - Former national team defender Helder 'Mano Mano' Muianga has replaced sacked Joao Chissano as Mozambique coach, the national football federation confirmed in Maputo Tuesday.

Muianga assisted Chissano two days ago when the Mambas (Snakes) slumped to a shock 1-0 home defeat by Rwanda in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations matchday 1 qualifier.

Chissano, who guided his country to second place behind Namibia in the Cosafa Cup southern Africa championship last month, was fired a few hours after the Rwanda loss.

The first task of the new handler will be to prepare an all-local national squad for an African Nations Championship qualifier against the Seychelles in Indian Ocean city Beira this weekend.

Muianga played for Mozambican, South African and Hungarian clubs and made his last national team appearance 11 years ago.

Chissano is the second Cup of Nations coach after Young Chimodzi of Malawi to lose his job following a matchday 1 home defeat.