Egypt FA ends Hossam Hassan’s 1005-day tenure; Ali Maher takes charge

The Egyptian Football Association has formally announced the departure of Hossam Hassan from his role as head coach of the national football team. This decision concludes a tenure spanning 1005 days, which began when he assumed responsibility on February 6, 2024.

Statistical record under Hassan

During his leadership, the Pharaohs competed in 38 matches across various tournaments. The team secured victory in 21 encounters, recorded 10 draws, and suffered seven defeats. In terms of scoring, Egypt netted 64 goals while conceding 33 during this period.

Major tournament achievements

Hassan guided the squad to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, marking an unprecedented milestone for the national team. Their historic campaign ended with a loss to defending champions Argentina, who won 3-2 after Egypt had taken a two-goal lead in a dramatic match.

Prior to the World Cup, the team reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations 2026, hosted by Morocco. Egypt was eliminated in that stage following a 1-0 defeat against Senegal.

Recent qualifiers and internal issues

Hassan’s final assignment involved two opening matches in the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027. The team drew 0-0 with Angola before securing a decisive 5-0 win over South Sudan.

This training camp was marked by significant tensions, most notably reports indicating that captain Mohamed Salah left the camp in anger. Media outlets reported that Salah was substituted during the Angola match, a move Hassan attributed to technical reasons.

New coaching appointment

In the statement announcing Hassan’s exit, the association confirmed that Ali Maher would assume the managerial position. Maher is set to lead the team through the upcoming phase, beginning with the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers this week.

The national team, now under Maher’s direction, is preparing for matches against Malawi. These fixtures constitute rounds three and four of the continental championship qualifiers, scheduled for November 13 and November 17 of the current month.