Egypt Under-17 head coach Hussein Abdel Latif has resigned from his position just months before the country’s participation in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The decision has disrupted preparations for the young Pharaohs, who are set to compete at the tournament from 19 November to 13 December.
Abdel Latif informed officials of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) that he wanted to leave his position immediately, bringing an unexpected end to his time in charge of a team that had successfully secured World Cup qualification.
The Egyptian side qualified for the Under-17 World Cup for a second successive edition under Abdel Latif after finishing third at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
His departure now leaves the EFA with the task of finding a replacement and ensuring that the team’s preparations remain on course ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
Abdel Latif accepts Libya offer
According to sources who spoke to WinWin, Abdel Latif’s decision was linked to a lucrative offer from the Libyan Football Federation.
The coach received an approach to take charge of Libya’s national teams for players born in 2010 and 2011. After considering the proposal, Abdel Latif accepted the offer and subsequently decided to end his tenure with the Egyptian youth national team.
The decision came as a surprise to officials within the EFA because of the timing, with Egypt already qualified for the World Cup and preparing for the final phase of its preparations.
Abdel Latif communicated his decision to Dr Walid Darwish, a member of the EFA board and the official overseeing the youth national team.
Darwish then passed the coach’s request to EFA president Hani Abu Rida.
The association president agreed to Abdel Latif’s request and allowed him to leave the position in accordance with his wishes.
The departure means Egypt must now appoint a new technical director to lead the team through its World Cup campaign.
EFA begins search for new coach
The EFA is expected to begin the process of identifying Abdel Latif’s successor.
The association’s board is expected to ask technical director Shawky Gharib to prepare a list of potential candidates for the vacant position.
The board will then select a new coach from the names put forward.
The appointment will be particularly important given the limited time available before the World Cup. The new technical director will inherit a team that has already secured qualification and has begun preparations for its participation in Qatar.
Egypt’s Under-17 side is scheduled to travel to Switzerland next month to compete in a friendly tournament.
The competition is expected to serve as an important part of the team’s final preparations before the World Cup and will also provide the incoming coach with an opportunity to assess his squad.
The change in technical leadership therefore comes at a delicate stage for the young Pharaohs.
Egypt drawn in Group A
At the Under-17 World Cup, Egypt will compete in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Greece and Panama.
The tournament will run from 19 November until 13 December, giving the new coach a relatively short period to establish his methods and prepare the players for the group-stage matches.
Egypt’s qualification represents a continuation of the progress made by the country’s youth teams, with the Pharaohs reaching the Under-17 World Cup finals for the second consecutive edition.
Abdel Latif played a key role in achieving that qualification after guiding Egypt to third place at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, his decision to accept the Libyan offer has brought his involvement with the team to an abrupt conclusion.
For the EFA, attention now turns to finding a replacement who can take over the squad and maintain the momentum built under Abdel Latif.
The association must also ensure that the upcoming training programme, including the Switzerland friendly tournament, proceeds as planned.
With the World Cup approaching, the appointment of the new technical director is likely to be a priority as Egypt prepares for its Group A campaign in Qatar.
