BBC SPORT | Football | Africa | Lemerre confirmed as Tunisia boss

Tunisia's Football Federation have confirmed that Roger Lemerre is to take charge of the national team.

Lemerre, who managed France at the last World Cup, will sign his contract later in the week.

"He will come to Tunis this week and he will be with the team for its friendly match with Portugal on 12 October," the federation said in a press statement.

Federation president Hammouda Ben Ammar confirmed Lemerre had been their target as the successor to Ammar Souayah, who quit after the World Cup finals.

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"We considered a list of several trainers and he (Lemerre) quickly emerged as the number one favourite," Ben Ammar was quoted as saying in French sports daily L'Equipe.

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When Lemerre met Tunisian officials, Ben Ammar said the Frenchman showed keen interest in managing the Carthage Eagles, as the national team is known.

But Lemerre must resolve outstanding issues with his former employers before he can start the Tunisia job.

"Lemerre told me he liked the project, but that he had to sort out his administrative situation with the French federation," Ben Ammar said.

Lemerre was dismissed as France coach after the World Cup, with the defending champions crashing out in the first round.

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He was subsequently given a job as technical adviser to the French federation.

Tunisian daily Le Temps said that Lemerre had accepted a monthly salary of about 30,000 dinars (about $21,700).

His contract would last until the 2004 African Nations Cup finals, with an option to extend his contract if Tunisia reach the semi-finals.


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