Rui Vitoria has been dismissed from his role as the head coach of the Egypt national football team after their hopes of securing an eighth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph were shattered last week, as announced by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA).
The EFA board of directors expressed gratitude to Portuguese manager Rui Vitoria and his staff in a statement, revealing their intent to assess resumes of potential foreign coaches. Meanwhile, Mohamed Youssef, a former al-Ahly coach, will temporarily assume control of the national side. Egypt’s exit from the competition occurred in the last 16, where they faced a dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The setback was particularly disappointing for Egypt, who had aspired to clinch their first AFCON title since 2010. The team faced challenges, including the absence of talisman Mohamed Salah due to a hamstring injury and a perceived lackluster group stage performance with three draws.
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Acknowledging their failure to meet expectations, the EFA issued an apology to Egyptian fans last week for falling short of their ambitions.
Rui Vitoria, whose stint with the Pharaohs lasted less than two years, is among several AFCON coaches facing departure. The tournament has witnessed success for underdog teams while proving disappointing for traditionally strong contenders, with the top five ranked African nations and the previous edition’s four semi-finalists all eliminated before the quarter-finals.