Conakry (AFP) – Guinea have appointed their caretaker coach Mohamed Kanfory Bangoura on a permanent basis and charged him with qualifying them for their first World Cup.

Bangoura, known commonly as Lappe Bangoura, was chosen ahead of highly-rated Belgian coach Paul Put and German journeyman Gernot Rohr.

Since Luis Fernandez quit the post in May Guinea negotiated a second World Cup 2018 qualifying round for one of the five African qualifying spots for Russia 2018.

They have been drawn alongside Tunisia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Libya in a final round robin qualifying group where the group winner qualifies for the World Cup finals.

Also on the agenda is a final qualifying match with Zimbabwe at Conakry on September 4 for a place in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon next January.

Guinea central defender and Saint Etienne player Florentin Pogba, the elder brother of France star Paul Pogba, is the Guinea national team captain.