Javier Aguirre
The Pharaohs last-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday proved costly for the Mexican manager and his staff.
Egypt sacked head
coach Javier Aguirre following their shock elimination in the round of 16 at
the Africa Cup of Nations.
Aguirre’s Egypt
were left stunned on Saturday as the AFCON hosts lost 1-0 to South Africa in
Cairo, where the Pharaohs failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time
since 2004.
Afterwards,
Egyptian Football Association (EFA) president Hany Abou-Rida announced his
resignation and confirmed the departure of the entire technical and
administrative staff.
Despite his
resignation, Abou-Rida – who also called for members of the board to step down
– said he will continue in his position as head of the organising committee of
the 2019 AFCON.
Egypt appointed
Mexican boss Aguirre following their group-stage exit at the 2018 World Cup in
Russia.
Former Japan and
Mexico coach Aguirre signed a four-year deal to replace Hector Cuper last
year.
“I am the one
responsible [for Egypt’s exit],” Aguirre said at the post-match news
conference.
“I’m
responsible for all the selections and the end results, but I’m still proud of
this group of players.”
Aguirre, who has
managed the likes of Mexico, Japan and Atletico Madrid in his long tenure as a
coach, seemed resigned to his fate as well.
“The next
step will be decided after I meet with the Egyptian FA board tomorrow,” he
said following the match, though the decision was apparently taken to part ways
prior to any meeting on Sunday.
And the manager
believes the game was decided by his side’s inability to put away their scoring
chances against Bafana Bafana.
“The game was
open and witnessed scoring chances; the only difference was that South Africa
scored a goal that helped them to qualify.
“We also had
our chances but couldn’t convert them,” he concluded.
Having won the
competition three times of the four occasions they’d hosted the finals before
this year’s showpiece, defeat at the hands of South Africa means Egypt won’t be
making it four triumphs in five on home soil.
The side carried
heavy expectations coming into the event despite a poor showing at the World
Cup in Russia, with Mohamed Salah fit and expected to take on a star role this
summer.
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