Egypt scrap national team director role as Ali Maher takes charge

Egypt have abolished the position of national team director following the appointment of Ali Maher as coach, Egyptian Football Association board member Mustafa Abu Zahra has confirmed.

Maher was named as Hossam Hassan’s successor earlier, with Ibrahim Hassan having previously held the director’s role before leaving alongside the coaching staff.

“Ali Maher will be responsible for selecting the squad and overseeing the team in its next two matches. He has a good understanding of the players’ levels,” Abu Zahra told On Sport.

He added that Maher would also decide who joins his backroom team after insisting on retaining that authority.

“Ali Maher will inform us about the members of his coaching staff. He insisted on his right to choose them, and this is also the direction of the Football Association,” Abu Zahra said.

Fitness coach Diego and team doctor Mohamed Abou El Ela will remain with the national team, while Essam El Hadary and Ahmed Hassan will continue their work with the Olympic team.

Abu Zahra also said Mohamed Abou El Enein, chairman of Ceramica Cleopatra, had supported Maher’s departure to take charge of Egypt.

“Mohamed Abou El Enein told us he was at Egypt’s disposal and welcomed Ali Maher leaving to coach the national team,” he said.

“There will be no Egypt national team director in Ali Maher’s staff, but Hany Abou Rida will supervise the team.”

The Football Association has yet to finalise the length of Maher’s contract or its financial terms.

Abu Zahra rejected suggestions that Mohamed Salah had influenced the decision to change coaches, saying the Liverpool forward had never discussed the future of any manager.

“Mohamed Salah never spoke about the future of any coach. He would have joined the national team even under Hossam Hassan,” Abu Zahra said.

“It is an established principle that the player is the player and the official is the official. Claims that Salah intervenes in these matters have no basis in reality. He is not the president of the Football Association or the coach, but he has always raised Egypt’s name.”

Egypt will face Malawi on 13 and 17 November in the third and fourth rounds of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Hossam Hassan took charge of Egypt in 2022 and led the Pharaohs to fourth place at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Egypt are in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers alongside Angola, South Sudan and Malawi. They lead the group with four points, ahead of Angola on goal difference. Malawi are third with three points, while South Sudan are bottom without a point.

Egypt drew 0-0 with Angola in Cairo before recording a 5-0 away victory over South Sudan.

“I thank Hossam Hassan for his efforts. We were happy with the period he spent with us, wish him success and will miss him,” Abu Zahra said.