Michel quits Nations Cup co-host Equatorial Guinea

Frenchman Henri Michel has stepped down as coach of 2012 Nations Cup co-hosts Equatorial Guinea but the reasons are unclear

The coach of Equatorial Guinea, who will co-host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, has quit his post.

Frenchman Henri Michel has resigned his position although the reasons have yet to be revealed.

On Monday, Michel, accompanied by his assistant, met for two hours with the president of the country's football federation, Bonifacio Manga Obiang.

Michel took charge in January on a contact set to expire after the Nations Cup, which ends in February.

The Frenchman - who has previously coached a number of African countries - was last in charge of the 1-1 friendly at home to Cameroon earlier this month.

He had constantly stated that his sole aim for the Nations Cup was qualifying Equatorial Guinea for the group stage.

This was while acknowledging the difficulties of leading a team ranked 155th in the world by Fifa into its maiden Nations Cup.

The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation (Feguifut) now has less than three months to find a coach before the country stages the opening game of the Nations Cup on 21 January in Bata.

It also needs to find a coach ahead of the preliminary round of 2014 World Cup qualifying, with Equatorial Guinea taking on Madagascar in a two-legged tie on 11 and 15 November.

The Nations Cup, which is being co-hosted by Gabon as well, will end with with the final in Libreville on 12 February.