Henri Michel quits Nations Cup co-host Equatorial Guinea

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The coach of Equatorial Guinea, who will co-host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, has quit his post.

Frenchman Henri Michel has resigned from his position although his reasons have yet to be revealed.

On Monday 17 October 2011, Michel, accompanied by his assistant, met for two hours with the president of the country's football federation, Bonifacio Manga Obiang.

Michel took charge in January on a contact set to expire after the Nations Cup, which ends in February.

The Frenchman - who has previously coached a number of African countries including Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia, as well as a host of top African clubs - was last in charge of the 1-1 friendly at home to Cameroon earlier this month.

Set modest target

He had constantly stated that his sole aim for the Nations Cup was qualifying Equatorial Guinea for the group stage.

This was while acknowledging the difficulties of leading a team ranked 155th in the world by Fifa into its maiden Nations Cup.

The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation (Feguifut) now has less than three months to find a coach before the country stages the opening game of the Nations Cup on 21 January in Bata.

The Nations Cup, which is being co-hosted by Gabon as well, will end with with the final in Libreville on 12 February.