Patrice Chitera BBC Sport Kinshasa

Nouzaret has also coached Ivory Coast and Guinea

Frenchman Robert Nouzaret has signed a two year deal to coach the national team of the DR Congo.

The 66-year-old's main task in the job will be to guide The Leopards to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

However failure to reach the Nations Cup, will trigger a clause terminating the contract in November 2011.

"I know that my mission is difficult but it is a kind of challenge that I like," he said.

The Leopards have missed the last two editions of the tournament in Angola earlier this year and Ghana in 2008.

Nouzaret, who has also managed Ivory Coast and Guinea, said he would do his best to return the country to the days when it was the best team on the continent.

"I will do all I can to bring to [the] Congolese what they deserve through their national team," he continued.

The President of the DR Congo Football Association Omari Selemani said Nouzaret was the most qualified of all those considered for the job.

"We have decided to take on Nouzaret as Coach for our national side because of his long experience and the convincing job application he presented us," Selemani said.

Nouzaret's first game in charge will be a friendly against African champions Egypt on 11 August.

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