Pharaohs already looking beyond Bradley era

Karim Farouk, Wednesday 16 Oct 2013

American coach Bob Bradley set to leave Egypt along with veteran players whose dream of playing in the World Cup is over

Bradley
Egypt coach Bob Bradley (Photo: Ahram)

Just 24 hours after their humiliating 6-1 defeat to Ghana in the World Cup playoff, Egypt have already started looking for a replacement for coach Bob Bradley who led the Pharaohs to their biggest ever African defeat.

Reports circulating in the media have mentioned potential successors such as former Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry and Egypt's legendary striker Hossam Hassan, among others.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the American tactician’s fate but spokesman Azmi Megahed and chief Gamal Allam have already said he will be asked to step down.

Some media reports suggest Bradley is on Australia’s radar to lead them at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Bradley was appointed in November 2011 to secure Egypt’s qualification for the World Cup, its first since 1990.

His contract runs until the end of the qualifiers and Tuesday's crushing defeat means his mission will be over after the second leg in Cairo on 19 November.

But it seems EFA officials are willing to take action to appease the anger of Egyptian fans who feel humiliated after the six-goal hammering.

The fate of several players is also in limbo.

Iconic playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika, who will turn 35 next month, Sayed Moawad, 33, Hossam Ghaly, 31, and Wael Gomaa, 38 are nearing the ends of their careers and are likely to quit international football now their dreams of playing in the World Cup are over.

The Pharaohs will look for fresh blood to build a new team around the likes of flamboyant winger Mohamed Salah.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

 

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