Egypt name caretaker coach

Egypt have named Hassan Shehata as their caretaker coach

Former Egyptian international Hassan Shehata has been named as the Pharaohs' caretaker coach.

Shehata replaces the Italian Marco Tardelli, who was sacked earlier this month following a string of poor results.

Shehata will look after the national team and keep his job as coach of second division side Arab Contractors until the Egyptian Football Association's (EFA) elections in December.

"He will prepare the team for the upcoming commitments in the World Cup qualifiers," EFA spokesman Medhat Shalaby said.

"We are arranging friendlies in the next two months against European champions Greece, Zimbabwe and Gabon."

Tardelli was fired after Egypt's 2-1 defeat away to Libya in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers that dealt a blow to the team's hopes of reaching the finals in Germany.

Egypt are fourth in Group Three with seven points, five adrift of leaders Ivory Coast.

Their next 2006 World Cup qualifier is at home to second-placed Libya in March.

"My main task will be boosting the players' confidence," 55-year old Shehata said.

"Reaching the World Cup now is very difficult but it is not impossible."

Shehata, who played more than 70 times for Egypt between 1969 and 1982, has coached several local clubs including his former team Zamalek.

He also guided Egypt's under-20s to the 2003 African championship before reaching the Fifa World Youth Championship quarter-finals in the same year.