Morocco fires national coach

Frenchman Henri Michel has been fired as coach of Morocco after their failure to get past the African Nations Cup first round.

"Due to a lack of results and because of his behavior at a press conference held on January 31 when the national team returned from Ghana, Henri Michel's contract has been terminated," said the Moroccan football federation source.

Morocco was set out of the African Nations Cup in Ghana after losing to the hosts and Guinea, only managing to beat minnows Namibia.

On January 31 Michel vowed to stay in the job in a bid to take Morocco to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"I have a contract until 2010 to get Morocco to the World Cup finals," said the Frenchman who claimed he also had the backing of the country's football federation.

The same day Michel complained there were "structural problems" in Moroccan football.

"Moroccan clubs have to agree that the priority is training. We have to have players who can measure up to foreign players," said Michel.