The Egyptian Football Federation considered five Egyptian coaches before appointing Ali Maher as the new national team coach. Maher takes over from Hassan, who left the position before Egypt's upcoming matches against Malawi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Federation member Mustafa Abu Zahra revealed that the five coaches were all Egyptian and that there was no consideration of a temporary appointment.
Abu Zahra expressed gratitude to outgoing coach Hassan, an Egyptian football legend, and acknowledged his contributions to the team. He also highlighted the team's new generation of professional players, including Mohamed Salah, who played a significant role under Hassan. The federation decided to make a change due to concerns that Hassan's continued presence could impact the team's performance.
The five coaches considered for the position were all Egyptian, and no foreign coaches were in the running. Abu Zahra confirmed that Hassan and his brother, Ibrahim, have a contractual clause that guarantees them three months' worth of compensation. The federation will now focus on supporting Maher as he prepares the team for the upcoming matches.
Maher will be responsible for selecting his own coaching staff, including a replacement for outgoing assistant coach Bassem Ali. Abu Zahra indicated that Maher may consider reappointing Mohamed Abdel Wahab, who was previously part of Hassan's staff. The team will play Malawi on November 13 and 17 in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Egypt is currently top of Group Two in the qualifiers with four points, ahead of Angola on goal difference. Malawi has three points, while South Sudan has yet to secure any points. The team recently drew with Angola and won against South Sudan. Maher will have two press conferences before the Malawi matches to discuss the team's strategy.
The Egyptian Football Federation has confirmed that they will support Maher in his new role and help him prepare the team for the upcoming challenges. The federation's focus is on ensuring the team's success in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and beyond. Maher's contract will be evaluated after the qualifiers, with a potential extension if the team reaches the tournament's final stages.
The team's first training session under Maher's leadership was attended by 21 players. The federation has also announced that defender Mohamed Abdel Monem will undergo a medical examination in Egypt before being officially ruled out of the squad. The team's preparations are ongoing, with the goal of securing a strong performance in the upcoming matches.
Key points
- Five Egyptian coaches were considered for the national team coaching position before Ali Maher was appointed.
- Ali Maher will select his own coaching staff, including a replacement for Bassem Ali.
- Egypt's national team will play Malawi on November 13 and 17 in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
