Egypt suffered a defeat against South Africa round of 16 after a late goal, kicking Egypt out of the tournament.
Thembinkosi Lorch scored the decisive goal five minutes from time in the second half, finishing off the match with 1-0.
The stunning elimination marked Egypt’s worst-ever performance as hosts. They twice won the tournament as hosts in 1986 and 2006, losing in the final in 1959 and the semi-finals in 1974.
It’s also the second major surprise of this tournament after Morocco lost to Benin on penalties on Friday.
South Africa will now meet Nigeria in the quarter-finals after their 3-2 win over Cameroon earlier today.
Egypt took the top spot in Group A after finishing the last match with 2-0 against Uganda, yet received criticism for its overall performance.
Egypt coach Javier Aguirre, who became the first casualty of the Africa Cup of Nations, was sacked just hours after the hosts were bundled out of the tournament by South Africa in the round of 16.
Egypt Football Association president Hany Abo Rida announced the firing of the Mexican coach, and his own resignation, less than three hours after the game as a stunned host nation digested the defeat.
Abo Rida also called on his board members to step down, calling his resignation a “moral obligation, although the football association had given the national team full material and moral support.”
Aguirre, 60, departs after less than a year in the job but not before setting a unique record by coaching at four different continental championships.
The Egyptian authorities will launch a probe into the Egyptian Football Association’s (EFA) financial and administrative violations and irregularities, according to senior officials.
The officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that a decision has been made to investigate the EFA corruption after the early shocking exit of the Egyptian National team from the Africa Cup.
The officials said that the investigation will include every aspect of the competition, however, the EFA shall be accountable for any previous corruption before the competition.
The officials vowed to question those in the EFA who was plagued with corruption and negligence.
