FAM says Egypt’s decision to fire their coach Ehab Galal is a strong message on their intention to get their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification campaign back on track.

The seven-time African champions’ next qualifiers are against the Flames back-to-back in September.

In an interview yesterday, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said: “This is a subtle message that we should take seriously because we are their next opponents.

Flames’ Gabadinho Mhango (R) in action against Ethiopia

“This can be an opportunity or a threat to us depending on how they regroup. We are following the developments closely.”

Football analyst Kelvin Moyo says the decision clearly demonstrates the Pharaohs’ desperation to recover from their 2-0 shock defeat against Ethiopia’s Walia Ibex.

He said: “Their intentions are certainly to put their campaign back on track and the move should put the Flames on guard that they will come out with all their guns blazing.

“Again, by the time we face them, the likes of Mohammad Salah, David Trezeguet and Mohamed Elneny will be available.”

But Flames coach Mario Marinica said the issue did not make sense to him as the group was deemed to be balanced.

He said: “Anyone can win against anyone on the day. So, it proved right as all teams had a win using home advantage.”

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) board member Hazem Emam was quoted by egypttoday.com as having said they will look to appoint a foreign coach as they seek to recover from a “poor start”.

  The coach was sacked after just three games in charge.

Galal, 54, replaced Carlos Queiroz in April after the Pharaohs failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Apart from the shock defeat to Ethiopia, Egypt also lost 4-1 to South Korea in a friendly match. On the other hand, Malawi beat Ethiopia 2-1 before going down 1-0 to Guinea.

Galal was appointed by Egypt after a season at Cairo-based Pyramids and previously managed several other club sides including Zamalek, El Masry, and Al Ahly Tripoli.

In his first match in charge in June, Egypt claimed a late 1-0 win over Guinea in an Afcon qualifier. All the four teams in the group are tied on four points, but Ethiopia top the group courtesy of a superior goal difference, followed by the Flames due to a better goal aggregate.

Group favourites Egypt anchor the group while the Syli Nationale of Guinea are third.

But the two losses—both missed by their captain and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah through injury—proved costly for Galal.

Emam said the EFA was “in talks with several foreign coaches” and will also bring in a technical director.

“I would like to thank coach Ehab Galal, a very respectful man, who has worked under some tough circumstances,” he added. “I want to apologise to him, but sometimes the pressure is too much and we saw it would be better for everyone to change.”

Queiroz, the former Portugal and Iran coach and assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, had led the Pharaohs to the final of the delayed 2021 Afcon finals in February in Cameroon, where they were beaten on penalties by Senegal.

Egypt then lost to the same opposition, again in a spot-kick shootout, in Africa’s play-offs for the World Cup in Qatar.

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