Ali Maher takes charge of Egypt as Hossam Hassan departs after World Cup run
The Egyptian Football Association has parted ways with national-team head coach Hossam Hassan and his coaching staff, and appointed Ali Maher as head coach, six days before Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi.
What the Football Association said
In an official statement after a meeting of its board, the EFA said it had reviewed the circumstances and events of the recent period and their negative impact on the national team’s positive image and stability. The board thanked Hassan and his technical and administrative staff, in line with the terms of the contract, and said maintaining the stability of the first national team was a paramount priority. The board also asked Maher to present his vision for the composition of the new technical staff.
Hassan’s two years in charge
Hassan, Egypt’s all-time leading scorer as a player, took charge of the national team in February 2024, replacing Portuguese coach Rui Vitória. In 38 matches he won 21, drew 10 and lost seven, with Egypt scoring 64 goals and conceding 33. He led the Pharaohs to the 2026 World Cup, where they recorded the country’s first World Cup win in 92 years — 3-1 over New Zealand — and reached the knockout stage for the first time, before a 3-2 defeat by Argentina in the round of 16. His contract had been extended until 2030 after the tournament. The decision to part ways came three days after the Supreme Council for Media Regulation barred Hassan from media appearances, and after FIFA imposed a three-match suspension on him.
Who is Ali Maher?
Maher, 52, was born in Cairo on 3 December 1973 and holds the CAF Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification in African football. He leaves Egyptian Premier League side Ceramica Cleopatra, where he won the Egypt League Cup twice, most recently in the 2024-25 season, and finished fourth in the league last season. He has previously coached Smouha, ENPPI, Al Masry and Modern Sport, and has taken charge of 343 official matches as a head coach, winning 156, drawing 92 and losing 95.
What comes next
Maher takes over with immediate effect. Egypt open a training camp on Monday 9 November and host Malawi at Cairo International Stadium on Friday 13 November, at 21:00 Cairo time, before the return fixture in Malawi on Tuesday 17 November. The two matches are the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027. Egypt are level with Angola on four points at the top of Group B, after a goalless draw with Angola and a 5-0 win over South Sudan, with Malawi one point behind.
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