CAIRO: Hassan Shehata was in charge of the Pharaohs of Egypt for their last two victories in the African Nations Cups.

He was not a popular choice when he replaced fired Italian coach, Marco Tardelli, in 2004 but has not looked back since then.

Besides the Nations Cup triumphs, the 60-year-old coach led Egypt to last year s FIFA Confederations Cup, where they shocked world champions Italy 1-0 and eventual champions Brazil needed a last-gasp penalty to win 4-3.

However, in this game you are only as good as your last result and Egypt s failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup at the expense of biter regional rivals Algeria must be regarded as a blemish in his track record.

Officials disclosed though that the former international striker, who featured as a player for Egypt at three Nations Cups, will be given a contract extension till the 2012 Nations Cup. -AFP