After leading Morocco to a 1-0 win over Gabon, Badou Zaki has been appointed to manage Morocco to the next African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.

"This decision should strengthen the state of mind currently prevailing within the national soccer squad and gather conditions for a higher motivation among the managing staff," said the Moroccan Football Federation.

He replaces Portuguese Humberto Coelho, who failed to lead the Atlas Lions to the 2002 World Cup finals.

Zaki has always been the people's choice as head coach, achieving fame as one of Africa's best-ever goalkeepers in the 1980s.

His most memorable performance was at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where Morocco became the first African team to get past the first round.

After a long career at Spanish club Mallorca, he took up coaching jobs at several Moroccan teams, including Wydad Casablanca.

Before his latest appointment, he had been Coelho's assistant in the national team and subsequently took charge on a temporary basis.

Apart from the win in Gabon, Zaki led the Atlas Lions to a 2-0 win over Luxembourg.