Damascus (AFP)
Argentine coach Hector Cuper submitted his resignation from coaching the Syrian national football team, after failing to qualify for the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, according to what was announced on Tuesday following the loss to Japan 0-5 in the last round.
By losing 5-0 in Japan, Syria failed to join its host in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and at the same time sealed its ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup finals, after North Korea removed it from second place in Group Two by defeating Myanmar 4-1.
The Syrian Football Association said on its Facebook page, “The coach of our first national team, Hector Cuper, submitted his resignation from his position during the press conference he held after the Japan match this evening.”
The 68-year-old Argentine was quoted as saying in the press conference: “I was very happy to work with these players and with all the help I received from the Syrian Football Association. They were very cooperative in everything we asked for as a technical staff, but I think that for me this match was the end of the stage.” .
In his farewell press conference, the former coach of the national teams of Georgia, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo added, “I would like to extend my thanks to those in charge of sports in Syria, as well as to the management of the Football Association, because they gave all their energy to help us. Unfortunately, this is football.
The former coach of Mallorca, Valencia, Spain, and Inter, Italy, thanked the players for the effort they made, and I apologize to the Syrian fans because I was hoping to make them happy. I thank everyone for the moments of joy and sadness we lived together. I tried to give my utmost effort. We dreamed together and made a great effort.”
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