Former Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana had been tipped for the job last November and went to Luanda to meet with the Angolan Football Federation (AFF), but the job never materialised.

Romeu, 49, has been handed a two-year contract with his first priority to qualify Angola for the next African Nations Cup finals in Morocco next year, the AFF confirmed on Thursday. Qualification starts in September.

Romeu previously coached at six different Angolan top flight clubs and was also the country’s under-20 team coach.

His first match in charge will be a friendly international against Mozambique away in Maputo on March 5.