Gabon's National Football Federation has sacked Jairzinho, their National team coach. The former World Cup winner for Brazil, was sacked by Gabon's Football Association (FEGAFOOT), following the team's 3-0 defeat by Angola in their 2006 World Cup Africa Zone qualifying match last weekend.

That defeat left the 'Azingo Nationale', (the Gabon Panthers), back in fourth place in Group Four of the African qualifying Zone, behind Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Angola.

This consigned the 'Azingo's' to not only no chance of qualification for the World Cup Final's, but also no chance of making it into the draw for the African Cup of Nation's.

Leon Ababe, president of Gabon's Football Federation, said in a letter published this weekend that Jairzinho, who had coached the national side for more than a year, was being dismissed from his post for "unsatisfactory performance."

Jairzinho is the second Brazilian to have coached Gabon in five years, after Antonio Dumas took Gabon's 'Panther's' to the African Nations Cup finals 2000 in Ghana.

Jairzinho was one of the players who excelled in the Brazilian squad that lifted the 1970 World Cup. With a goal in every round of the tournament, (a feat that, to this day, has not been matched), his fierce shot, and electric turn of pace left even the best of defences flat-footed. But his managerial success has been less admired than his scouting ability for new talent.

It was in the early 1990s that he spotted a teenage Ronaldo, and so, launching the Brazilian star's career with Sao Cristovao in Brazil, which then propelled the striker to stardom in both Europe, and on the International stage.

Federation sources said that jairzinho had already submitted a resignation letter to 'Fegafoot', which has been recently troubled by internal wrangling and consistent financial insecurities.

The Gabon FA are yet to name a new National Coach for the 'Azingo', who will be facing Algeria, in their final World Cup qualifying match at home on the 7th of October.

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