Gabon appoints former Spain coach, Camacho ahead of AFCON

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Gabon appoints former Spain coach, Camacho ahead of AFCON

Former Spain manager, Jose Antonio Camacho, was on Friday confirmed as new coach of Gabon national team, just 43 days before the African Cup of Nations, AFCON, kicks off in the country.

The 61-year-old Camacho signed a two-year contract in Libreville, the Gabon Football federation said in a statement, and replaces former Portuguese international Jorge Costa, who was sacked last month.

Gabon will on January 14, tackle Guinea Bissau in the opening match of the AFCON, leaving Camacho with little time to work with the team.

Gabon are also in contention for a place at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, which resume in August.

Camacho has not worked since he was fired as the coach of the Chinese national team in 2013.

He won 81 caps for Spain and played more than 400 games for Real Madrid in a glittering playing career before coaching at several top Spanish clubs, including Sevilla, Espanyol and Real.

Camacho also had two stints as coach of Benfica in Portugal.