LUANDA: Angola’s football federation has named Manuel Jose as the new coach of its national team.

Jose, from Portugal, was expected to arrive by the end of the month.

He replaces Angolan Mabie de Almeida, who was fired last month amid criticism the team was performing poorly in the run-up to the African Cup of Nations, which Angola is to host in January, 2010.

The 63-year-old is leaving Egyptian club Al-Ahly to take up the Angolan job. -AP