By the end of February, the Ecuadorian football team should already have a professional staff that will take over the team for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Francisco Egas, president of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), estimated in a conversation with journalists. on Wednesday.

Egas was confident Tri would face FIFA’s March date with a new technical director after Argentina’s Gustavo Alfaro did not renew his contract that ended last November and failed to reach an agreement with the FEF to extend him or sign one new.

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“I would estimate that by the end of the month we should already have a professional staff, and certainly by the beginning of March we must already block foreign players for the term, which, as I already announced, will be two games. (with Australia)”, Egas pointed out.

Ecuador was left without a professional staff at the end of its participation in the World Cup in Qatar-2022, where it was eliminated on the last day of the group stage by Senegal and did not advance to the round of 16. Since then – November 29 – he has not been active.

Alfaro appeared at the press conference and again did not make statements to the local media. His farewell was made official with a letter published on social networks.

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The main candidate for the seat vacated by Alfaro is his compatriot Ricardo Gareca, the former coach of Peru.

“I would estimate that by the end of the month we should already have a professional staff, and certainly at the beginning of March we have to block foreign players for the term, which, as I already announced, will be two games. (with Australia)”, Egas pointed out.

Ecuador will face Australia in two friendlies on FIFA Day in March. The matches will be played in the cities of Melbourne and Sydney, according to the statements of Francisco Egas.

“We have been invited by Australian Football and we will be playing them in the cities of Melbourne and Sydney for the FIFA date in March, so we hope to have the coaching staff already in place,” the FEF director added.

Gareca, who appears to be the closest candidate to sign a contract with the FEF as Ecuador’s new coach, assured on Tuesday that his relationship with Trio has not ended, but that the FEF is close to reaching an agreement.

“I am in negotiations with Ecuador. It is not done or closed; They are on the verge of an agreement. I spoke with the president, I also spoke with Gustavo Alfaro and we are in negotiations,” he commented Tiger65 years, up to ESPN from Argentina.

The statements of Tigre Gareca destroy the world media announcements about the interest in his engagement of the Mexican Cruz Azul.

“That’s the only offer I have. I am with all the energy in all aspects. For me, the fact that I lead a club or a national team does not change anything,” added Gareca.

(D)