The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Monday that head coach Rui Vitoria has left Egypt following the national team’s lackluster performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Following Egypt’s thrilling penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the round of 16, which dashed their dreams of winning a record-tying eighth AFCON championship, Vitoria was fired.
Three draws during the team’s dismal group stage performance added to the fans’ annoyance, and the Egyptian fans received an apology from the EFA.
The EFA board expressed gratitude to Vitoria and his team for their service in a statement, but they also mentioned that they were looking at hiring foreign coaches to fill the vacancy. Mohamed Youssef, a former coach of Al Ahly, was named as the interim manager in the release as well.
With Vitoria’s departure, the number of well-known coaching casualties after the AFCON upset rises. Several African football powerhouses, including the top five-ranked countries and the semi-finalists from the previous edition, were eliminated early in this tournament, giving underdogs their chance to shine.