Tunisia football coach Humberto Coelho has been sacked after failing to take the Carthage Eagles to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Faouzi Benzarti, coach of Tunisian giants Esperance, will take charge of the national team during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

There has been a huge outcry against Coelho in the Tunisian media and public since the 1-0 loss to Mozambique in Maputo on Saturday.`

That result meant that Nigeria, who beat Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi, qualified for next year's World Cup from Group B.

Coelho blamed the artificial pitch and the heat for his side's defeat.

But that excuse did not wash with the country's sports minister and top officials at the Tunisia Football Federation during a meeting last night.

The decision was made to end the Portuguese coach's 17-month spell in charge.