The Pharaohs of Egypt’s head coach, Rui Vitoria, has hinted at his ambition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup spot.
The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals placed Egypt in Group A with five teams: Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, and Djibouti.
The Pharaohs’ boss, Vitoria, 53, who was named head coach of the national team in July 2022, has been speaking ahead of friendly matches this month.
After he named his final squad for the training camp in the UAE friendlies against Zambia and Algeria, he said, “My goal, with my current contract expiring in 2026, is to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.”
Egypt will participate in two friendly matches, the first against Zambia on 12 October and the second against Algeria on 16 October.
“Playing against Algeria and Zambia provides strong tests for the players, with two significant games scheduled within a 72-hour period,” Vitoria added.
“We always seek challenging matches during preparations for the African Cup of Nations finals and the World Cup qualifiers,” the Portuguese coach emphasized.
Under Vitoria’s guidance, the Pharaohs secured their place in the 2023 African Cup of Nations and will commence their 2026 World Cup qualifiers campaign in November.
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