Pharaohs coach Salah has said he will quit when he returns to Egypt

Egypt coach Mohsen Salah has announced his resignation a little over an hour after his team were knocked out of the Cup of Nations.

The Pharaohs needed to beat Cameroon to progress from Group C, but the goalless draw left Egypt in third place on the group, behind second-placed Algeria on goals scored.

Salah was appointed coach of the Egyptian national team in June 2002, having previously led the Pharaohs for one year in 1995.

"I have worked very hard, but unfortunately I failed," Salah told a news conference at Monastir's Saleh Ben Jannet Stadium.

"When I get back to Egypt, I will resign and another coach will do his best.

Egypt coach vows to quit

"Good luck to him."

Salah had told the BBC in an exclusive interview earlier this week that he would quit his post even if he led the Pharaohs to Nations Cup glory.

This was because he was disillusioned with the pressure of dealing with his media critics.

Egypt, who are one of only three countries to have won the Nations Cup on four occasions, had gone into these finals among the favourites and opened with a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe.

But they then lost 2-1 to 10-man Algeria in a match which the Pharaohs dominated and were, for large parts, the superior side.

For two brief minutes in the match against Cameroon, Egypt had a foot in the quarter-finals after Zimbabwe took a 2-0 lead against Algeria, which was enough for the Pharaohs to go through on goal difference.

However, a quick Algerian goal finished Egyptian hopes of qualification - as did their failure to beat Cameroon.