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TSUNAMI IN EGYPT! COACH FIRED; FA BOSS RESIGNS

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The shocking elimination of hosts and pre-tournament favourites, Egypt from the Africa Cup of Nations has had a devastating effect in the country.

The president of the Egyptian Football Federation, Hany Abou-Rida late on Saturday took very drastic decisions.

 

First he fired the country’s Mexican coach, Javier Aguirre and then immediately resigned his own position as the president of the FA.

Also joining him in resigning, according to Egyptian publication, Kingfut, are a number of board members including Hazem Emam and Ahmed Megahed.

Hany Abou-Rida will however continue as the head of the local organizing committee of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, an ad hoc position.

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Coach Javier Aguirre

Egypt, seven times winners, gunning for a record extending eight time, lost 0-1 to outsiders, South Africa which in the first place owed their Round of 16 qualification to results of other teams.

It will be the first time in many editions that Egypt will not make it to the quarterfinals.

Attendance at the championship is also expected to drop sharply except there are either free match tickets or prices are reduced.

The sacked coach was appointed in August 2018 and took charge of Egypt in 12 matches across all competitions.


During his time in Egypt, the Pharaohs won nine games, drew one, while losing only twice. The national team scored 25 goals under his charge while conceding seven.

He was on a contract of  $120,000 per month. This was supposed to run until the 2022 World Cup.

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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