The federation confirmed it had been in touch with Abdoulaye about the role as coach of the team of locally-based players for the African Nations Championship qualifiers.

It added that while discussions had been held no contract had been signed and no official statement made.

Former Congo Brazzaville international Abdoulaye had announced on social media on Wednesday that he was the national coach of the CAR.

While the 37-year-old's post did not give the details of his contract it did state: "The country of my parents... my roots."

FCF need a coach to replace the Spanish-Swiss coach Raoul Savoy, who left the post after he failed to lead the side to this year's Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

On his post he had outlined his objectives as the next Africa Cup of Nations, the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the World Cup in Qatar two years later.

If the appointment is finalised it will be Abdoulaye's first major managerial job since became a coach after he retired as a footballer in 2017 since when he has been coaching in the French lower divisions.

As a player he had stints at French clubs Senart Moissy, Clermont, Metz, Bourg-Péronnas, Orleans and Grenoble where he started his club career and had two spells.

The France-born defender also featured for Swiss club Lausanne and FC Baku of Azerbaijan.