Egypt’s national team faced an unexpected exit from the Africa Cup of Nations at the hands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, leaving coach Roy Vitoria contemplating his future with the Pharaohs.
The defeat came in the Round of 16, with Egypt succumbing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a penalty shootout, the match ending 1-1 in regular and extra time.
When pressed about his future with Egypt in a post-match press conference, Vitoria responded, “This is not the time for hasty decisions; we will reflect before making any decision.”
He continued, “This is not the end; we did not anticipate the defeat.
Misfortune played a role in Egypt’s loss to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
Acknowledging the players’ strong performance, Vitoria noted, “Football has its moments of joy and sorrow, and the players performed exceptionally well.”
“We prepared this team for the Africa Cup of Nations, but there are times when you give your best effort, and the result does not meet expectations.
We need to look ahead to our future goals,” he added.
When asked if Egypt would lose its standing as the team with the most Africa Cup of Nations titles, Vitoria responded, “We cannot be defined by this; history proves that Egypt is a formidable team, but it has undergone numerous changes.”
He concluded, “We need to establish the foundations and be better in the times to come.”
The match concluded with a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time before the Democratic Republic of the Congo emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, securing a place in the quarterfinals to face Guinea.
