Egypt Sack Coach after Defeat to Ethiopia in Afcon Qualifier

The Egyptian Football Association has sacked Ehab Galal as coach after just three games in charge of the national team, the BBC reported today. 

Galal, 54, replaced Carlos Queiroz in April after the Pharaohs failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

But he was dismissed after a 2-0 defeat to Ethiopia in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Dawa Hotessa and Shimelis Bekele scored in the Group D match played in Malawi on Thursday last week. Guinea also defeated Malawi in the other Group D game 1-0.

All four teams in the group now have three points each after the opening two rounds of fixtures.

Egypt will look to appoint a foreign coach that will be in charge of their qualifying campaign, according to the BBC.

Galal was appointed by Egypt after a season at Cairo-based Pyramids and previously managed several other club sides including Zamalek, El Masry, and Al Ahly Tripoli.

In his first match in charge in June, Egypt claimed a late 1-0 win over Guinea in a nation qualifier. But the loss to Ethiopia proved costly for Galal.

EFA board member Hazem Emam said they were “in talks with several foreign coaches” and will also bring in a technical director.

“I want to apologise to him, but sometimes the pressure is too much and we saw it would be better for everyone to change,” Emam said.

Featured Image Caption: Egyptian football officials dismissed a week after a 2-0 defeat to Ethiopia in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in Malawi.