Congo Brazaville have parted ways with head coach Valdo Filho ahead of Afcon qualifiers.

The Congo Football Federation (FECOFOOT) have opted not to renew the contract of the Brazilian coach just weeks ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with Senegal and Guinea.

The Congo Football Federation did not give any reasons behind its decision not to offer the 57-year-old former Brazil international an extension to his deal which ends on 18 March.

Congo are second in Group I of the qualifiers for next year’s Nations Cup finals in Cameroon with seven points from their first four matches, five less than already-qualified Senegal but four more than third-placed Guinea Bissau.

Congo host Senegal on 26 March in their penultimate qualifier and then finish the campaign away at Guinea Bisaau four days later.

The federation said on Thursday it had appointed Barthelemy Ngatsono as coach for the two games.

Congo were last at the Cup of Nations finals in 2015, when they reached the quarter-finals but failed to qualify for the last two editions.

Valdo went to two World Cups with Brazil and played for Benfica and Paris St Germain. He was appointed Congo coach in 2018.