Egypt coach Ali Maher wants attacking football backed by defensive strength

Egypt head coach Ali Maher says he wants his side to combine attacking ambition with defensive discipline after beginning his tenure with a convincing 5-0 victory over Malawi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Maher, who was appointed six days ago to replace Hossam Hassan, took charge of the Pharaohs for the first time on Friday and was impressed by his players’ response to his tactical instructions.

The 52-year-old praised the squad for taking responsibility and executing the plans agreed before the match.

“The players have a sense of responsibility. Before the match, I said I was counting on them, and they implemented the ideas we had agreed upon beforehand,” he said.

Maher stressed that his ambition is not simply to win matches but also to deliver entertaining football for the supporters.

“We deserve to play football that entertains the fans. My objective is for us to attack and defend fiercely,” he added.

The Egyptian coach also highlighted his side’s control of the midfield and the spaces around both penalty areas, describing the performance as evidence of the players’ technical ability and tactical understanding.

“We managed to control the midfield to a great extent, as well as the areas around the 18-yard boxes,” he said.

Maher expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to reproduce the performance against any opponent, comparing the Egyptian national team to a lion.

“I compare the Egyptian national team to a lion. The players have great abilities and can deliver this kind of performance against any team,” he added.

He also reserved special praise for captain Mohamed Salah, who scored twice against Malawi and moved to 70 international goals to become Egypt’s all-time leading scorer.

“Mohamed Salah is the role model and the best thing that has happened to Egyptian football. We must treat him accordingly,” Maher said.

The coach thanked the supporters for turning out in large numbers and urged them to continue backing the team as they pursue qualification for the 2027 AFCON.

The victory moved Egypt to the top of Group B with seven points from three matches, three ahead of Angola, who were due to face South Sudan on Saturday.