The coach of Moroccan side Moghreb Tetouan has stepped down in the wake of their disappointing showing at the Club World Cup, the club announced on Saturday.

Aziz el Amri, 64, resigned three days after Tetouan lost on penalties to Auckland City of New Zealand in a play-off for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

He had led Tetouan to two Moroccan titles in the last three seasons, with last season's triumph seeing them qualify for the Club World Cup as champions of the host nation.

Despite the backing of more than 40,000 supporters for the match against Auckland in Rabat, Tetouan fell at the first hurdle in their attempt to match Raja Casablanca's run to the final of last year's competition, when they were eventually beaten by Bayern Munich.

The pressure on Tetouan had been all the greater after Moroccans had hoped the hosting of the event would help make up for the country's refusal to stage the Africa Cup of Nations early in the New Year due to fears over the spread of Ebola.

Insted of Tetouan, Auckland will face African champions ES Setif of Algeria in Saturday's quarter-final.

The winners of that match will face San Lorenzo of Argentina, Copa Libertadores holders, in the semi-final next week.