Fabisch coached the national teams of Zimbabwe and Kenya in the 1990s

German Reinhard Fabisch could be handed the responsibility of coaching Benin at next year's African Nations Cup.

The former Zimbabwe and Kenya handler is reported to have been chosen ahead of two Frenchmen.

But the man himself told BBC Sport that no deal has yet been signed.

A director at the Benin Football Federation said the German will be handed the job because the federation believes he has more experience of African football.

The unnamed director was quoted as saying: "We have retained Mr Fabisch to coach the Squirrels after looking at the three dossiers of the coaches on the short list,"

"We have gone for him because he knows African football better than the other two, Jean Francois Domergue and Bernard Simondite."

Despite the report emerging from the west African country, Fabisch says it is not yet a done deal.

The German told BBC Sport that he has been approached by the authorities in Benin but they are yet to confirm his appointment.

The country had also been in contact with the vastly experienced Philippe Troussier, who is known as the 'white witch doctor' because of his success with African teams.

But they backed out after reports emerged that Troussier had been shortlisted to coach the Australian national team.

Fabisch faces a tough task to get Benin through to the second round of the tournament to be held in Ghana.

They are in Group B along with African giants Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who lost to Egypt in the 2006 final, as well as Mali.