Fajah Barrie BBC Sport Online in Freetown

Brazilian coach Jose Nogueira has been in talks with the Sierra Leone FA and Sports Ministry about taking over as head coach of the Leone Stars.

Officials of the Sports Ministry told BBC Sport Online that they have almost succeeded in securing Nogueira, who will come to Freetown to complete the deal.

Sports Ministry spokesman Amadu Bah confirmed on Thursday that the Brazilian coach has already agreed to sign an initial six month contract with Leone Stars.

Noguira will reportedly receive US $5,000 as his monthly salary and US $10,000 as a match bonus.

Bah said the money to pay Nogueira will be provided by the Sierra Leone based mobile phone company, Millicom.

Thecareer history of the Coach is not yet known but what is clear is that it will be his first experience in Africa.

Sports Minister Dr. Dennis Bright is closing in on Noguiera

Noguiera will replace local coach, Sam Obi Metzger, who together with John Jebbor Sherington will serve as Noguiera's assistant coaches.

His main task is to guide the Leone Stars to the 2004 African Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia.

It is likely that Noguiera's first match in charge will be Leone Stars' Nations Cup encounter against Morocco on 29 March.

It will the first time a South American serves as coach of a national team in Sierra Leone.

However the Leone Stars have had foreign coaches in the past, including Yugoslav born Dusan Draskovic, and Egypt's Mustapha El-Ghali, who guided Sierra Leone to their first ever Nations Cup finals in Tunisia 1994.