Egypt national team coach Rui Vitoria
The Pharaohs will be in quest for their eighth continental title in the tournament, set to take place in January 2024 in Cote d'Ivoire.
Speaking to BeIN Sports TV, Vitoria stated that winning the Nations Cup title is not an easy mission, considering the presence of many strong teams.
However, he emphasized that their strategy is to win the title and they will give their best effort to achieve that goal.
When asked about his offensive strategy, the Portuguese coach mentioned that he adopts a balanced approach, recognizing the importance of both defense and offense.
Previous Egyptian coaches, Hector Cuper and Carlos Queiroz, faced criticism for their defensive and conservative strategies.
Cuper led Egypt to qualify for the World Cup after a 28-year absence and finished as runners-up in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Queiroz guided Egypt to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they lost to Senegal on penalties.
The Pharaohs also missed out on qualifying for the 2022 World Cup after another penalty shootout defeat to Senegal.
Under Vitoria's guidance, the Pharaohs have shown promise, won eight games and lost only once since he took charge in July 2022.
In these nine games, Egypt scored 21 goals and conceded five.
Vitoria emphasized that a team cannot win titles with offense alone, highlighting the importance of a strong defense as well.
He prefers a balanced approach, and the players are familiar with his strategy.
The coach also praised the presence of world-class star Mohamed Salah in the team, stating that Salah, like Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar, brings significant power to his team.
He commended Salah's influence on the team, pushing other players to train well and give their best in both training and matches.
Vitoria expressed his fondness for living in Egypt and mentioned that he has a project to present during his four-year contract with the Pharaohs.
He feels honoured to have earned the four-year contract and is focused on working hard with the team.
He also mentioned their vision for the 2026 World Cup and their readiness to face all challenges.
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