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JOHANNESBURG. — New Morocco coach Herve Renard begins his quest for a record-equalling third African Cup of Nations soccer title with back-to-back qualifiers against Cape Verde, the top-ranked African team.

A seven-day, 50-match schedule starts today and the co-Group F leaders meet in Praia on Saturday and in Marrakech Tuesday in key matches as only mini-league winners are guaranteed places at the 2017 tournament in Gabon.

Both countries beat Sao Tome e Principe convincingly and Libya narrowly in previous matchdays with Cape Verde topping the table on goal difference.

Renard, a 47-year-old who succeeded Badou Zaki last month after indifferent Moroccan performances, guided no-hopers Zambia to 2012 glory and repeated the feat with perennial underachievers Ivory Coast last year.

Hassan Shehata coached Egypt to three consecutive titles between 2006 and 2010, but only Renard has won the Cup of Nations with different countries.

His successes in Africa contrast with failures in France. He could not prevent Sochaux being relegated and a second Ligue 1 stint ended this season with Lille sacking him.

Given that Morocco are ranked only 19 in Africa, Renard has been set a tough target of at least reaching the 2017 Cup of Nations semi-finals by his new employers .

And while some pundits remain sceptical as to whether Cape Verde are the strongest African national football team, they are chasing a third consecutive Cup of Nations appearance.

Like Morocco, Cape Verde will have a new coach with local Felisberto “Beto” Cardoso succeeding Portuguese Rui Aguas, who quit after not being paid for seven months.

Cape Verdean football officials said the salary was supposed to be paid by Portugal under a development and co-operation agreement between the countries.

Former assistant coach Cardoso will rely heavily on Djaniny and Heldon for goals while Moroccan sharpshooter Youssef El Arabi bagged a brace in Spain at the weekend. — AFP.