Egypt sacks coach Hossam Hassan over 'negative impact' on team image; appoints Ali Maher

Egypt have sacked national football team head coach Hossam Hassan, with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) citing a "negative impact on the positive image of the team" as the reason for his dismissal.

The federation announced the decision without providing details about the circumstances that led to Hassan's removal, stressing that protecting the national team's stability remained its foremost concern.

In its statement, the EFA said that "maintaining the team's stability is a paramount priority" and could not be compromised.

The decision comes months after Hassan guided Egypt to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the team was eliminated by Argentina in the round of 16.

The federation moved quickly to appoint Ali Maher, an experienced Egyptian Premier League coach, as Hassan's replacement ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures.

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

Although the EFA did not elaborate on its reasons for dismissing Hassan, Egyptian media reports suggested that the decision was linked to controversies surrounding his personal life rather than alleged disagreements with players.

Speculation had emerged about tensions between Hassan and members of the national squad, including star forward Mohamed Salah. However, Egyptian media indicated that those reported differences were not the primary reason behind the federation's decision.

The dismissal follows an unprecedented move by Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation, which last week banned Hassan from appearing across media outlets.

The ban was imposed after disputes involving Hassan's personal life became public, bringing additional scrutiny to the national team coach.

Neither the football association nor the media regulator provided further details in the information available about the circumstances surrounding the controversy.

𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀

Hassan was appointed Egypt's head coach in 2024, marking a significant moment in the career of one of the country's most prominent former footballers.

He subsequently became the first former Egypt international to coach the national team at a FIFA World Cup when he led the side at the 2026 tournament.

Under his leadership, Egypt advanced to the round of 16 before losing to Argentina, ending their campaign in the first knockout stage.

Despite that achievement, Hassan's tenure came to an abrupt end as the federation sought to address concerns surrounding the national team's public image and stability.

The EFA's statement did not identify any disciplinary findings or specific incidents behind its decision.

𝗔𝗹𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲

The federation has appointed Ali Maher as the new national team coach, turning to a manager with extensive experience in Egyptian domestic football.

Maher has spent several years coaching in the Egyptian Premier League and was most recently in charge of Ceramica Cleopatra, who are currently fourth in the league standings.

His immediate responsibility will be to prepare Egypt for their upcoming qualification matches for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Egypt are scheduled to face Malawi twice, on November 13 and November 17, leaving Maher with limited preparation time before his first competitive assignments.

The Pharaohs currently lead Group B in the qualifying campaign and will be seeking to consolidate their position in the race for a place at the continental tournament.

The appointment represents a rapid transition for the national side, with the federation opting for an experienced domestic coach rather than leaving the position vacant during the international window.

Maher will now have to familiarise himself with the squad, establish his coaching approach and prepare the players for two important fixtures within days of taking charge.

The leadership change comes at a crucial stage of Egypt's qualification campaign, with the EFA placing emphasis on maintaining continuity and avoiding further disruption.

For Hassan, the dismissal brings an end to a tenure that included a World Cup knockout-stage appearance but concluded amid controversy away from the football field.