Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been put in charge of the Burkina Faso national team, returning to the post he previous occupied a few years ago.

Duarte’s return was made possible with the resignation of previous coach Gernot Rohr last week, as the German decided to take up a position with the German Football Association, while focusing on his career as a television analyst.

Following Rohr’s departure, the Burkina Faso football federation acted fast in finding a capable replacement so as not to destabilise the team’s preparations and momentum.

Duarte’s two-year contract begins in January, and will be his second stint with the team, after being in charge of the Stallions for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaigns in 2010 and 2012.

He lost his job at the helm of the national team after the team failed to progress from the group stage of both Nations Cup appearances. Duarte’s coaching experience includes time spent in charge of Gabon, and CS Sfaxien at club level.

The Burkinabe progressed to the next stage of 2018 World Cup qualifying with Rohr’s guidance, beating Benin 3-2 on aggregate, and they are now amongst the 20 remaining African teams in contention for five places awaiting Africa in Russia.

Duarte’s objectives will include qualification for the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, as well as the 2018 World Cup. At the moment the Stallions find themselves third in Group D of the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.