Daniel Cousin settles wage dispute with Gabon

by Staff Reporter

Monday Mar 04, 2019. 09:15

Daniel Cousin has settled a wage dispute with Gabon’s sports ministry and has formally signed a contract to take charge of the national team.

Cousin had reportedly been working without a written contract since being appointed as the Panthers’ coach in September last year. His new deal runs up to the end of Gabon’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

"February 28, 2019, marked the official signing ceremony of Daniel Cousin's contract as coach of the Panthers of Gabon," Gabon's football federation (Fegafoot) said in a statement.

The ceremony took place at Fegafoot's headquarters in the presence of the Gabon Sports Minister Alain Claude Billie By Nze and Fegafoot President Pierre Alain Mounguenhui.

Fegafoot say Cousin's assistant coach Mbanangoye Zita Bruno and the national team's general manager François Amegasse "will also sign their respective contracts in the coming days".

The agreement gives Cousin security as he prepares for Gabon’s final 2019 Nations Cup qualifier away to Burundi later this month.

The Panthers must win in Bujumbura to move into the top two of Group C and secure qualification for the finals in Egypt later this year. Anything less will see Burundi reach their first AFCON tournament, alongside leaders Mali (who have already guaranteed qualification).

Cousin, a former Gabon international, has been in charge of three Nations Cup matches with Gabon since he took over as coach, defeating South Sudan in back-to-back games before losing to Mali at home.