James Copnall BBC West African football correspondent

Mali were beaten by Morocco in the semi-finals of Tunisia 2004

Alain Moizan is set to be appointed the new coach of Mali.

The Malian Minister for Sports, Djibril Tangara, has given the go-ahead for Moizan to become the new coach of the Eagles.

Moizan, who has dual French and Senegalese nationality, is expected in Bamako next week to sign his contract.

He will replace Frenchman Henri Stambouli at the head of a team that has reached the semi-final stage in each of the last two Nations Cup finals.

Moizan was apparently the favoured candidate in a list of sixteen candidates considered by the Malian Football Federation (FMF).

Other names on the list were reported to include old African hands such as Otto Fischer and Francisco Scoglio, as well as former Marseille coach Bernard Casoni.

Moizan's last job was as coach of Senegalese club Jeanne d'Arc.

With the 'Blue and Whites', Moizan won the Senegalese league in 2003 but his contract was not renewed after he failed to lead Jeanne d'Arc into the group stages of the Champions League.

Born in Saint Louis in northern Senegal, Moizan became a star player in France, most notably with Monaco, Lyon and St Etienne.

He was a French international between 1979 and 81, winning seven caps.

Although Moizan's coaching record is patchy, taking in just a spell with Compagnie Sucriere Senegalaise and then Jeanne d'Arc, he has a powerful backer.

It is believed the Mali-born French international Jean Tigana, who is currently in Bamako, was instrumental in persuading the FMF to take a chance on Moizan.

Tigana played with Moizan for France in the early 1980s.

Moizan will be expected to lead Mali past Senegal into the 2006 World Cup finals.

Mali are in Group 1 of the combined 2006 Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying along with Senegal, Liberia, Zambia, Congo and Togo.

The Eagles' first qualifying game is on 6 June against Liberia in Monrovia.