Egypt sacks coach Hossam Hassan and appoints Ali Maher for Malawi qualifiers

Dismissal and successor

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) dismissed head coach Hossam Hassan on Saturday, 7 November 2026, along with his coaching and support staff, with effect from that day. The federation named Ali Maher, 52, as his replacement. Maher had been coaching Ceramica Cleopatra, which finished fourth in the Egyptian Premier League last season, and he won the Egyptian League Cup in the 2024/25 season. He will lead Egypt in the two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Malawi on 13 and 17 November, with little time to assemble a new coaching team. The EFA explained the decision by pointing to the image and stability of the national side.

“Maintaining stability of the team is top priority.”

A season of off-pitch controversy

Hassan's position had been strained since late August, when a video of a family dispute between him and his wives spread on social media. Local media reported that the argument, which broke out at a cafe during a holiday on Egypt's north coast, escalated in public and drew wide attention. His lawyer later confirmed a divorce but denied that Hassan had suffered any health problems. Hassan's lawyers also filed a complaint against one of his former wives, alleging forgery of official documents and bigamy, and her representatives rejected those allegations. The federation said it was concerned about the damage to its image caused by this private matter. Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation barred Hassan from appearing on media platforms three days before the dismissal.

Results on the pitch

Hassan led Egypt to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, the country's best World Cup showing, where Egypt led Argentina 2-0 before losing 3-2. He had been in charge since March 2024 and also took Egypt to the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations before a fourth-place finish. The EFA had extended his contract to 2030 after the World Cup. Over 38 matches in charge he recorded 21 wins, 10 draws and seven defeats. After criticising the referee following the Argentina defeat, he received a three-match FIFA ban, which reports said would keep him out of the dugout for both Malawi games.

Wins21

Draws10

Losses7

Wins

21 matches

Draws

10 matches

Losses

7 matches

Data from the article text

The Salah dispute

The most visible rift involved captain Mohamed Salah. During a 0-0 home draw with Angola in September, Hassan substituted Salah in the 60th minute, and the forward then left the camp. The EFA said Salah avoids playing on artificial pitches, which meant he would miss the 5-0 qualifier win over South Sudan later that month. Press reports said the tension resurfaced during the October international break, when Salah again left the squad, prompting Hany Abo Rida to travel to Turkey to meet him. Hassan had also criticised players in the Egyptian league, which did not go down well within the squad. Former Egypt attacker Mido said in September that the situation had gone out of control and urged officials to step in.

Ahead of Malawi

Egypt top Group B with four points, following the goalless draw with Angola and the 5-0 win over South Sudan. Reports said the federation had planned to keep the existing coaching staff through the two Malawi matches and delay any decision on Hassan's future until afterwards. Egyptian media figure Ibrahim Fayek said the dismissal had already been settled behind the scenes, and the leak before any formal announcement caused friction within the federation's leadership. Maher's first matches in charge are scheduled for 13 and 17 November, and the squad list was expected to be published in the hours after the decision.