Egypt’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations coach, Rui Vitoria, has reacted to ex-Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro’s claims that he had been pressured to give minutes to the home-based players in Nigeria’s squad.
In an interview with A Bola, Vitoria explained that Egypt is a different reality with quality and potential players, and strong teams like Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramids, where players are stars.
Vitória also noted that it is not easy for players to leave their environment, family, and clubs where they are idolized to join a European team.
“Egypt is a different reality. It has players of quality and potential, and there are three tremendously strong teams: Al Ahly, Zamalek, mainly, and now Pyramids, where the players are stars,” Vitória said.
“It is not easy there, as it happens in other latitudes, for a player to leave that environment, his family, the good weather, the food, his friends, and abandon his status at the club where he is idolized and join any European team.”
Recall that Peseiro took 24 foreign-based players to Ivory Coast and just one NPFL player, Olorunleke Ojo, who did not play during the tournament.
