File photo: Egypt coach Rogerio Micale speaks during the pre-game press conference, photo courtesy of CAF official website
Expressing his gratitude for the EFA's faith in his abilities, Micale stated during a television sports program interview, "I thank the Egyptian Football Association for their confidence in my work."
"We have had several conversations about leading the 2005 national team; however, the negotiations are currently on hold as we have chosen to focus on the two games against the Russian national team," he further revealed.
These friendly matches took place earlier this month, with the first match ending in a 1-1 draw and the second in a 2-1 victory, serving as preparatory fixtures for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
While Micale expressed that he was close to taking charge of the 2005 national team, he refrained from confirming the appointment, stating, "I have not signed any contracts yet, so I cannot say it is a done deal. The final decision lies with the Egyptian Football Association."
At 54 years of age, the experienced coach successfully guided Egypt to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics and led them to the final of the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to hosts Morocco earlier this month.
Despite the defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations final, Micale assured fans that the team remains committed to pursuing a medal in the Olympic Games.
Egypt, Morocco, and Mali will represent Africa as the top three teams from the Africa Cup of Nations in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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