The Egyptian Football Association have renewed confidence in national team Argentinean manager Hector Cuper, despite Egypt's 2-1 loss in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Final.
"Cuper accomplished a great success and he will continue as the team's coach," the association's chairman Hani Abou-Rida said to a reporter at the Cairo Airport where the Pharaohs were welcomed by the country's president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
Cuper, who was appointed in March 2015, failed to end a jinxed run, which saw him lose five domestic and continental finals with Spain's Mallorca and Valencia clubs and Greek club Aris Thessaloniki.
Egypt, who failed to qualify for the last three editions of the Nations Cup, won 2017's fair play award.
"We have a long road ahead to the finals of the 2019 tournament in Cameroon. The kick-off will be against Tunisia in June," Abou-Rida said.
The record holders of seven trophies, Egypt made it to the finals in Gabon after taking the lead of the group stage with a goalless draw against Mali and two 1-0 victories over Uganda and Ghana.
The Pharaohs defeated Morocco 1-0 in the quarterfinals in a tough game before passing Burkina Faso with penalty shootouts, thanks to record-breaking goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary.
"We want to continue our biggest mission: to qualify to the 2018 World Cup in Russia," Abou-Rida concluded.
Egypt have made it to the World Cup only twice before, in 1934 and 1990.
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