Egypt parts ways with Hossam Hassan, appoints Ali Maher

The Egyptian Football Association has parted ways with Hossam Hassan and his coaching staff, appointing Ali Maher to lead the senior national team ahead of two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi.

The EFA said its board reviewed recent events and their effect on the team’s image and stability before ending Hassan’s tenure. The association did not identify the events in detail in its statement. It asked Maher to present his vision for the composition of a new technical staff.

Maher is due to take charge for Egypt’s matches against Malawi on November 13 and 17. The fixtures are part of the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt’s appointment announcement came as the team prepared for the two games.

Some reporting linked Hassan’s departure to controversies surrounding his private life and his former wife. The EFA’s stated explanation referred broadly to recent events and their effect on the national team; it did not explicitly name the private-life controversy as the reason. Hassan’s former wife’s representatives denied allegations reported by local media concerning alleged forgery of official documents and bigamy.