Senegal coach Amara Traore in contract deadlock
Last updated on .From the section Football
Senegalese coach Amara Traore remains out of contract with just over a month to go to the Africa Cup of Nations, with talks over a new deal having stalled.
Traore's contract expired on 15 December and he and the Senegal Football Federation (FSF) had hoped to renew his deal, after he fulfilled his target of leading the team to the Nations Cup finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
But talks reached an impasse after Traore asked for more money.
The 46-year-old reportedly wanted a two-year extension to his contract, plus 12m CFA Francs ($23,800) as a monthly salary, a sum that the Senegalese sports minister would not approve.
The BBC's Aliou Goloko in Dakar says an agreement is still expected this week, especially as the country's president, Abdoulaye Wade has now got involved in the situation.
"There are now talks between three parties - the government, the FA and the coach himself - and they're going to definitely find an agreement," Goloko said.
"Traore is going to announce his squad next Tuesday and he's already talked about his plan for the national squad, so in his mind he's still working.
"He's continuing his work as coach because he knows he will find an agreement with the FA."
Traore took over the squad two years ago and has revamped it with talented youngsters.
Senegal, who have endured dressing room divisions in the past, edged past Cameroon to qualify for the 2012 finals under Traore.
It came after the Teranga Lions failed to qualify for the 2010 edition in Angola under previous coach Lamine Ndiaye.
Traore, a former player, coached first division ASC Linguere de St-Louis to the title in 2008 before he was appointed to the post.
Senegal have been drawn in Group A and will face co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, as well as Libya and Zambia.
