AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Pharaohs coach Ali Maher hails Mohamed Salah as ‘the most beautiful thing in Egyptian football’

New Egypt coach Ali Maher has paid a glowing tribute to Mohamed Salah, describing the Trabzonspor forward as “the most beautiful thing that has happened in Egyptian football” following his appointment to lead the Pharaohs.

Maher made the declaration during his unveiling as the national team’s new head coach on Wednesday, November 11, as he outlined his ambitions and acknowledged the responsibility of succeeding Hossam Hassan.

The former coach is taking charge at a crucial period for Egyptian football, with the team preparing for upcoming international assignments, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Egyptian Football Association, Maher expressed his excitement about the appointment and thanked the country’s leadership for supporting the national team.

He also acknowledged the work of Hassan and his brother Ibrahim, who previously managed the team, insisting that their contribution deserved recognition.

“We worked hard and God honored us with this position, and I thank President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for supporting the national coach, and I thank Captain Hossam Hassan for his hard work with the national team in the recent period,” Maher said.

However, it was his assessment of Salah that attracted particular attention, with the new coach placing the former Liverpool star at the centre of his appreciation for Egyptian football.

“Mohamed Salah is the most beautiful thing that has happened in Egyptian football,” he declared.

The statement underlines the importance Maher places on the 33-year-old captain as Egypt prepare for another demanding period on the international stage.

Maher faces pressure to continue Hassan’s progress

Maher’s appointment comes with expectations after Hassan’s spell in charge of the national team, with Egyptian Football Association president Hani Abu Rida challenging the new technical team to maintain the progress achieved under the previous management.

Abu Rida opened the unveiling ceremony by thanking Hassan and his brother Ibrahim for their service, highlighting the achievements recorded during their time with the Pharaohs.

He also warned that those accomplishments would increase the pressure on Maher to deliver similar results and maintain Egypt’s competitive standing.

“I would like to thank Captain Hossam Hassan for the period in which he led the national team, and for the successes and achievements that took place. Of course, these successes will put pressure on Captain Ali Maher, and he must continue the path of success. We have two important matches ahead of us against Malawi,” Abu Rida said.

The new coach will have little time to settle into the role before beginning his assignment, with Egypt scheduled to face Malawi in a friendly encounter at Cairo International Stadium on Friday, November 13.

Maher acknowledged that the limited preparation period presents an immediate challenge but insisted he would maximise the available time to work with his players.

“Certainly, there is a problem with the limited time, but I am trying to intensify the work with the players, and everything will come in its own time, and we will see what happens,” he explained.

Maher confident in Egypt’s quality

Despite the challenges associated with taking over the team, Maher remains optimistic about the quality available within the Egyptian squad.

The new Pharaohs boss believes the country possesses enough talent to compete at the highest level on the continent and deliver the performances expected of a traditional African football powerhouse.

“We have players at the highest level in Africa. Egypt has the quality that allows it to deliver a good performance,” he added.

His immediate priority will be to establish his ideas and assess the squad ahead of the upcoming competitive assignments.

With Salah continuing to captain the national team, Maher will also be expected to build a team capable of challenging for continental honours while maintaining Egypt’s reputation as one of Africa’s most successful football nations.