The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Saturday that it had dismissed coach Hossam Hassan, citing a “negative impact on the positive image of the team.” In a brief statement, the EFA said that maintaining the team’s stability was a paramount priority that could not be compromised, but it did not provide further details. Hassan, who was appointed head coach in 2024, became the first former Egyptian player to lead the national team at a World Cup. Egypt was eliminated by Argentina in the last‑16 of the tournament. The decision to sack Hassan has been widely reported to stem from controversies surrounding his personal life rather than on‑field disagreements with players such as star forward Mohamed Salah. The EFA’s move followed a ban imposed by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation last week, which prohibited Hassan from appearing in any media outlets—a first for a national coach in Egypt. The federation has named Ali Maher as Hassan’s replacement. Maher, who has long served as a head coach in the Egyptian Premier League and is currently at the helm of fourth‑placed Ceramica Cleopatra, will need to quickly prepare the squad for upcoming fixtures. Egypt’s next matches are a two‑legged qualifying tie against Malawi on November 13 and 17 for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The team currently leads Group B.
Article and image source: My Joy Online