Burkina Faso’s Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been sacked because of the team’s poor performance at the recent African Cup of Nations.

The African nation finished last in Pool B of the biennial continental tournament after losing all of their first round three matches.

“At the current time you have to acknowledge there is no life in the team and confidence in the coach is low. That’s why we’ve decided to end our association with coach Duarte,” Burkinabe Football Federation (FBF) president Zambede Theodore Sawadogo told national television on Friday.

Duarte’s contract had been due to expire on March 31.

The Portuguese coach – dubbed the ‘African Mourinho’ – took over in 2008, and led Burkina Faso to the 2010 and 2012 Cup of Nations but they never got past the first round.

During this year’s tournament which ended last weekend he clashed with FBF leaders over problems in the organisation.