Egypt national team coach Rui Vitoria. (Photo: EFA)
The Pharaohs began their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in impressive fashion, routing Djibouti 6-0 at Cairo Stadium on Thursday.
Speaking at the post-match news conference, Vitoria acknowledged the significance of the 6-0 win, stating,
"Winning 6-0 is a positive outcome, especially considering that such victories are rare.
“I am aware of the significant difference between the two sides in terms of FIFA and CAF rankings, so the victory was expected.
“However, it does not mean that the game was easy, as I firmly believe that there are no easy games in modern football."
While Vitoria expressed satisfaction with the team's result and performance, he believed that the players should have converted more goal-scoring opportunities, as they squandered several clear chances.
The Portuguese coach refused to overlook the difficulty of Egypt's group in the qualifiers, anticipating challenging encounters ahead.
Egypt was drawn into Group A alongside Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Djibouti for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
"Our group in the qualifiers is not easy, and everyone knows that winning away from home in Africa is an extremely challenging mission.
“There are various circumstances that can hinder the team, such as the heat, long trips, and the enthusiasm of the opposing fans," Vitoria explained. "This group is by no means easy."
Meanwhile, Vitoria heaped praise on Mohamed Salah, who delivered an outstanding performance during the game, scoring four goals.
He described Salah as an artist and a world-class player, highlighting his ability to make a difference on the field. Vitoria particularly emphasized the third goal, which he considered the best moment of the game, as it showcased teamwork culminating in Salah's exquisite finish.
"Salah is capable of scoring at any time. He is like an artist. For me, the third goal was the highlight of the game because it was the result of team effort, and Salah, like an artist, added the finishing touches,"
Vitoria commented. "Salah is a player who can make a difference, and he consistently does so."
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