Five coaches have steered the Egyptian national football team to the podiums of triumph in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, with Murad Fahmy etching his name at the forefront of this prestigious list.
Fahmy led the Pharaohs to their maiden victory in the tournament in 1957, marking the initiation of their illustrious journey and glory.
In the 1959 championship held in Egypt, Hungarian coach Balint Tetrakosch succeeded, helming the national team from 1958 to 1961, clinching the first title for foreign coaches and the second for Egypt in the tournament.
Following in the footsteps of the Hungarian maestro, British coach Mac Smith assumed the responsibility of reclaiming the title in the 1986 edition hosted in Egypt after a 27-year hiatus.
He guided the Pharaohs to reclaim their spot on the winner’s podium, securing the coveted trophy by triumphing over the Cameroonian Lions in the final through a penalty shootout.
Mahmoud El-Gohary then led the Egyptian national team to the podium for the fourth time in its history during the 1998 edition in Burkina Faso, defeating South Africa in the final.
Subsequently, Hassan Shehata, an icon in Egyptian and African coaching, took the helm, leading the team to secure the championship three consecutive times in 2006, hosted in Egypt, against Ivory Coast; in 2008, hosted by Ghana, against Cameroon; and in 2010, hosted in Angola, against Ghana.
Since the last victory, the Egyptian national team has not been able to clinch the title despite reaching the final matches in 2021 and 2017, falling short to Cameroon and Senegal, respectively.
The legacy of Egyptian football is rich with these coaching maestros who have left an indelible mark on the nation’s sporting history, bringing moments of pride and joy to football enthusiasts across the country.
