Patrice Beaumelle has taken over as the new coach at Esperance of Tunisia, who are through to next month’s African Champions League quarterfinals.
The 47-year-old Frenchman earlier this month had his contract as Angola coach terminated after a disappointing return for the Palancas Negras at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, where they were beaten by South Africa and failed to get past the first stage.
At Esperance, Beaumelle replaces Maher Kanzari, who was fired after their penultimate group match earlier this month when they lost to Stade Maien.
But the Tunisia giants still qualified for the last eight with a 2-0 victory in their final Group D clash against closest rivals Petro Atlético of Angola. Frenchman Christian Bacconi was caretaker coach as they went through to the last eight for the 10th season in a row.
Esperance have been drawn against record winners Al Ahly in next month’s quarter-finals, hosting the first leg in Tunis and then going away to Cairo for the return.
In the Tunisian league, Esperance have a one-point lead at the top of the table over Club Africain, who have played one match more.
Beaumelle’s first game in charge will be on Wednesday when Esperance travel to seventh-placed Metlaoui.
Beaumelle was appointed Angola coach last September. He has been a long-standing fixture on the African coaching circuit, mostly as an assistant to compatriot Herve Renard, including a stint in Angola between 2010-2012.
Beaumelle also previously served as head coach of Zambia and Ivory Coast and took Algerian club Mouloudia Alger to the group phase of last season’s Champions League.