The Portuguese was recommended by compatriot Manuel Jose recently and was considered one of the candidates to take Ahli’s hot seat this month.

“I reached an agreement with Ahli vice-president Mahmoud Al-Khatib but the talks stopped because I am under contract with Burkina Faso,” Duarte told Portuguese media.

“I really wanted the post and I think every coach in Africa dreams of managing Ahli. I always consider Ahli to the Real Madrid of Africa.”

Ahli are currently searching for a manger to take over from interim boss Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Shafi ‘Zizo’, with reports strongly linking Jose with a return to Cairo.