Egypt Football Association (EFA) has sacked the head coach of the country’s national team, Rui Vitoria, following a disappointing outing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

“We want to thank the Portuguese Rui Vitoria, the coach of the Egyptian national team, and his assistant staff while studying the biographies of foreign coaches and presenting them at the next meeting,” the EFA said in a statement on Monday.

The seven-time champions managed to reach the round of 16 at this year’s AFCON with just three points, having drawn all of their three group stage matches, but were knocked out by DR Congo in a penalty shootout.

With the outcome at the tournament, which the EFA concluded did not suit the country’s football profile, the association has now decided to relieve Vitoria and his assistants of their positions.

He was the highest-paid coach in Africa before his dismissal

“The council decided to approve the appointment of Mohamed Youssef as general coach of the first Egyptian national team until a foreign technical director is selected and the rest of the staff is formed,” the statement added.

He joined a growing list of coaches who have lost their jobs following disappointing outings at the AFCON. The names on the list include Jalel Kadri, who was sacked by Tunisia, Djamel Belmadi, sacked by Algeria and many others.