Senegal has appointed former midfielder and captain Aliou Cisse as coach, a rare chance for a black African to take charge of one of the continent's top teams.

The Senegal Football Federation says Cisse, who captained Senegal to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002, has signed a four-year contract. His position will be evaluated in two years following the 2017 African Cup of Nations.

Cisse was previously an assistant coach with the national team and most recently coach of Senegal's Olympic team.

The 38-year-old Cisse replaces Alain Giresse, a Frenchman who left after Senegal's first-round elimination at the African Cup in January.

Only three of the 16 teams at this year's continental championship had homegrown coaches, with most favoring European imports.