Fawzi Benzerti has been named the new head coach of the Tunisian national football team, replacing French tactician Bertrand Marchand.

“Benzerti was selected by the majority of board members to lead Tunisia to the ACN 2012 finals,” Spokesman of the Tunisian football Association (TFA) Mohamed El Hady said in a press conference on Tuesday.

“If he manages to achieve this target, he will remain in his position until 2014 World Cup in Brazil,” he added.

Tunisia have been struggling in the African Cup of Nations (ACN) 2012 qualifiers and conceded a stunning 1-0 defeat to Botswana in November.

Marchand has been under fire from the media since the defeat, which also led the TFA to sack him last month.

The 61 year old Benzerti has been out of work since being fired by Tunisian giants Esperance last month after conceding a humiliating defeat to TP Mazembe (6-1 on aggregate) in the CAF Champions League Final.

He coached the Tunisian team before in the African Cup of Nations in 1994 and 2010.

The Carthage Eagles will resume their qualifiers campaign in June when they host Chad.