Zamalek's Portuguese coach Augusto Inacio is facing heavy criticism after failing to secure an early qualification ticket into the Africa Champions League quarterfinals following a 3-1 loss to CAPS United of Zimbabwe away in Harare on Sunday.

After the loss, speculations about the future of Augusto with the Cairo Giants flared up and his staff were sacked.

"All Inacio's staff were sacked, the technical, medical and administrative," Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour told a sports programme on Sunday evening, adding that hiring a second coach is a possibility.

Reports suggested that the club's board aim to clip the coach's feathers to force his resignation, as they want to reach a compromise to avoid having to honour his pay-out clause.

"Zamalek have given their worst-ever performance under my guidance, wasting very easy chances. But still we have a chance to qualify by winning against Ahli Tripoli," Augusto, who refused to attended the post-match press conference, was quoted as saying to the Zamalek board after the game.

The Cairo Giants, who are bottom of Group B with five points, need to win their final home game against Ahli Tripoli on Sunday, hoping CAPS do not pull a surprise victory over USM Alger in Algiers.

Zamalek are one point behind CAPS and three behind Ahli Tripoli and group leaders USM Alger.

The board delayed their decision on the coach's fate until after Sunday's game.

Zamalek have had 14 different coaches since the election of Mansour in 2014, including Ahmed “Mido” Hossam, Hossam Hassan, Manuel Ferreira and Alex McLeish.

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