Egypt sack Rui Vitoria as head coach a week after last-16 Afcon 2023 exit

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Rui Vitoria lost the services of Egypt captain Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward suffered a hamstring injury in their 2-2 draw with Ghana in the Afcon 2023 group phase

Egypt have sacked Portuguese manager Rui Vitoria following their disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Ivory Coast.

The Pharaohs exited the tournament at the last-16 stage after an 8-7 penalty shootout defeat against DR Congo in San Pedro.

Egypt had struggled in the tournament, failing to win a game.

They were also hampered by an early injury to talismanic captain Mohamed Salah.

Egypt were held to three successive 2-2 group-stage draws - against Mozambique, Ghana and Cape Verde - before their loss to DR Congo.

In a statement on Sunday, the Egypt Football Association (EFA) said 53-year-old following a meeting of their board of directors.

Mohamed Youssef, a former Al Ahly coach, has been appointed as Egypt's interim manager although the EFA say they "will also study the CVs of [some] foreign coaches."

Former Benfica and Spartak Moscow manager Vitoria was appointed as Egypt head coach in 2022, succeeding Ehab Galal. He signed a four-year deal which would have taken him through to the 2026 World Cup.

His reign with the Pharaohs started well, winning 12 out of 14 games in charge before the start of Afcon 2023.

This included their two wins at the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Vitoria's dismissal follows the departure of a number of other coaches at Afcon 2023.

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi, Gambia's Tom Saintfiet, Ghana's Chris Hughton, Tunisia's Jalel Kadri and Ivory Coast boss Jean-Louis Gasset all parted ways with their teams.