Saudis sack coach after Cup

Updated: Monday July 01, 2002 02:47 p.m. ET

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RIYADH (Reuters) -- Nasser al-Johar has been sacked as Saudi Arabia coach following the team's poor showing at the World Cup finals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

A committee -- set up by Saudi Football Association head Prince Sultan bin Fahd -- will select his replacement from a list of five foreign candidates.

It was not clear whether Johar was sacked with immediate effect or would stay until a replacement was finalised.

Johar replaced Yugoslav Slobodan Santrac last year following a 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Iran before guiding them to their third successive finals.

But his side failed to perform in Japan, where they conceded 12 goals and failed to secure a point in three group matches.

They lost 8-0 to Germany, 1-0 to Cameroon and 3-0 to Ireland in performances that prompted Saudi authorities to start looking for a new coach.

It was 56-year-old Johar's second spell in charge of the Saudi national team and he was their sixth coach since 1998.

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