Senegal sack coach Traore

Senegal have sacked national coach Amara Traore, along with his technical staff, following the team's poor performances at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. "It was a failure and it is the coach's responsibility," said Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, reported the Senegalese Press Agency. "Decisions had to be taken and the executive committee has decided to end its collaboration with the coach and his backup staff." Senegal were among the pre-tournament favourites, but returned home having finished bottom of their group and failed to secure a single point. Traore, however, insisted he would not resign, having achieved his initial goal of qualifying the team for the CAN. The Senegalese Football Federation has asked Olympic coaches Karim Sega Diouf and Aliou Cisse to take over in the interim as the national team prepares for a friendly match against South Africa on 29 February.