Nooij not reappointed as Mozambique coach: report

Dutchman Mart Nooij has not been reappointed as Mozambique’s national soccer coach, though he is still in the running for the position, state media reported Friday.

“Mart Nooij still is not out of the running,” the Noticias newspaper quoted the vice-president of the Mozambican Football Association (FMF), Antonio Chambal, as having said.

The paper retracted a report from the previous day that announced Nooij’s contract renewal.

“It was a falsehood which Noticias, in keeping with the tradition of April 1, wanted to share with its readers,” it said.

Nooij, who joined Mozambique’s team as coach in 2007, led the team to its first African Cup of Nations appearance in 12 years this year but the team failed to win any games.

At the time, FMF president Feizal Sidat told reporters that Nooij’s contract would be not be renewed but backtracked on his statements after returning to Mozambique.

Nooij has been in limbo since January 31, when his contract with the FMF expired. An interim head coach was named in March as negotiations continued.