The Egyptian Football Association has ended the tenure of Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan and his staff following a board meeting, appointing Ali Maher as his replacement and prompting a critical Instagram message from Hassan’s son Omar.
Board meeting leads to dismissal of Hassan and staff
The Egyptian Football Association decided after a board meeting to end the tenure of Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan and his backroom staff. On Saturday, the association announced that it was thanking Hossam Hassan and his technical and administrative staff.
Before making this decision, the Egyptian Football Association reviewed recent events and circumstances, along with their repercussions. The association believed that recent events and circumstances had damaged the positive image of the national team and its stability.
Ali Maher appointed as new Egypt head coach
The board of the Egyptian Football Association appointed Ali Maher as the new man in charge of Egypt’s national team. Ali Maher was previously the head coach of Ceramica Cleopatra.
Ali Maher takes over ahead of Egypt’s upcoming fixtures, including two matches against Malawi on 13 and 17 November in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Hassan’s record with the national team
Hossam Hassan and his staff took charge of Egypt’s national team in February 2024. Under Hossam Hassan, Egypt reached the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Under Hossam Hassan, Egypt reached the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Egypt’s run to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup was described as historic and as the first time in the Pharaohs’ history that they reached that stage.
Omar Hossam Hassan’s critical Instagram message
Omar Hossam Hassan, the son of Egypt’s former head coach Hossam Hassan, posted a message via the Story feature on his Instagram account after his father’s departure from the technical leadership of the Pharaohs. The Instagram message was posted just days after the Egyptian Football Association ended his father’s tenure.
Omar Hossam Hassan’s message carried pointed criticism of the way his father’s journey with the national team came to an end. Posting via the Story feature on his Instagram account, he wrote: "One day history will tell of a leader whom no one could defeat on the battlefield, so they brought him down by treachery".
