Top Egyptian football club Al Ahly fired Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido on Monday after failing to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage.
Ahly, winners of a record 19 CAF titles, lost a penalty shootout against Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan in Cairo Saturday and were relegated to the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.
“The Al Ahly director of football verbally informed me that I will not be continuing as coach,” the Spaniard told the Egyptian media.
Read also: Bayern Munich Trashes Leverkusen To Claim Title
Garrido, 46, took on one of the most difficult coaching jobs in Africa last July at a club used to winning domestic and CAF competitions.
His successes included winning the CAF Confederation Cup and the Egyptian Super Cup last year.
But the CAF Champions League exit coupled with a faltering national league campaign triggered his downfall.
Seeking a record-equalling ninth consecutive Egyptian title, Ahly trail bitter rivals Zamalek by 11 points in the second half of the season.
In another coaching change involving a leading North African club, Kheireddine Madoui says he will quit CAF Champions League title-holders Entente Setif when the Algerian season ends soon.
Read also: Arsenal, Everton Win As West Ham Stuns Chelsea
“I am announcing my decision to leave now to allow time for management to find a new coach,” the 38-year-old told reporters.
Madoui has been jeered by Setif supporters despite guiding the team to the CAF Champions League group stage and the top of the Algerian table with four rounds left.
