Peru fires Ibanez after qualifying failure

LIMA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Peru has dismissed manager Oscar Ibanez after the team's poor World Cup qualifying campaign, the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) said on Wednesday.

The decision came less than a day after Peru lost 1-0 at home to Paraguay in its final qualifier.

"Our institution expresses its most sincere gratitude to Mr. Ibanez and his coaching staff for the responsibility and commitment shown in leading the senior national team," the FPF said in a statement.

Tuesday's defeat at Estadio Nacional in Lima left the Blanquirroja ninth in the 10-team South American standings with 12 points from 18 games, the team's worst return since the qualifiers adopted a home-and-away round robin format for the 1998 World Cup.

The FPF did not immediately name a replacement for Ibanez, a former goalkeeper born in Argentina who became a naturalized Peruvian and won 50 caps for his adopted country.

Local media said Carlos Silvestri and Manuel Barreto are among the early frontrunners for the job. Enditem