2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Egypt suffered an embarrassing exit in the round of sixteen against a spirited South Africa side, but is there a silver lining?
As the entire continent watched Algeria defeat Senegal – for the second time this tournament – in the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the more observant of casual fans will notice a glaring omission from the quarterfinalists, let alone the final four: hosts and 2017 AFCON runners-up Egypt.
The Pharaohs crashed out of the tournament in the round of sixteen after conceding on the counter attack to a South Africa side that had tormented their opponents all night. After the quality of Egypt’s performances in the group stage, and despite finishing top of Group A with nine points and three clean sheets, many critics had started to suggest that Javier Aguirre’s men might not have what it takes to go all the way in the tournament.
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Nevertheless, the fact that the hosts’ elimination came so soon was not expected by many. South Africa are a perfectly respectable team, but the main concern was directed at what Egypt would do when (not if) they reached the last eight and started to face the likes of Nigeria and similarly favored sides. What arguably made matters worse, was how the failure on home soil came with a squad very similar to the one that reached the final of the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, perhaps with more experience under their belts.
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The aftermath of the debacle was immediate; the EFA announced the sacking of Aguirre, before a slew of EFA board members resigned. The Mexican manager’s staff was also relieved of their duties, and assistant manager Hany Ramzy has been vocal in his criticism of his departing colleagues.
Will this lead to a fresh start for Egyptian football? Several issues plague the local landscape for the sport; fan attendance for league matches and choosing a proper coaching staff for the national team are just a couple of problems among many. While it remains unclear what the future holds at this point, one cannot help but hope that the incoming decision makers and officials learn from the past and rely on logic and planning as opposed to financial greed and ulterior motives as they regulate the country’s #1 passion: football.
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