Duarte is new Burkina Faso coach

By Ibrahim Sannie BBC Sport

Burkina Faso have appointed Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte

Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been appointed to take charge of the Burkina Faso national team.

The 38-year-old has signed a two-year deal.

Duarte has been tasked with helping the Stallions qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and he admits it will be an arduous task.

"With the quality of teams in Africa at the moment it will be difficult to qualify for the Africa Nations Cup in Angola," Duarte said.

"But the Burkina Faso squad is a mixture of experienced and young players who are capable of achieving that dream for the country."

His first official game in charge of the squad will be in June when they travel to Tunis to play Tunisia in their opening game of the joint 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

They will also play Seychelles and Burundi in Group Nine.

Duarte previously worked as the coach of the Portuguese first division side Uniao Leiria.

He takes over from Frenchman Didier Notheuax whose contract was not extended when it expired in October last year.