Hossam Hassan’s Egypt coaching staff to receive full financial rights, says FA board member

Egypt’s Football Association board member Mostafa Abu Zahra says the former national team coaching staff, led by Hossam Hassan, will receive all money owed to them, including the value of the termination clause in their contracts.

“I would like to thank the former Egypt coaching staff, led by Hossam Hassan, for the achievements they delivered,” Abu Zahra told MBC Masr 2.

“A financial settlement will be reached with Hossam Hassan’s staff, and their rights under the termination clause are محفوظة.”

Abu Zahra also praised the contribution of Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim during their time in charge of Egypt.

“We experienced many proud moments with Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan,” he said.

Hossam Hassan’s tenure as Egypt manager ended before Ali Maher was appointed as his replacement. Abu Zahra said Maher had been selected from a shortlist of five candidates before the association reached its final decision.

“Ali Maher was one of five choices and, in the end, we decided to appoint him to coach the national team,” he said.

The Egyptian FA is seeking continuity in the position, but Abu Zahra said performances will be assessed alongside results at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

“We are always looking for stability and prefer the head coach to remain in his position, but performance is important as well as results in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations,” he added.

FA president Hany Abou Rida assigned Khaled El-Dirandaly and Tarek Abou El Enein to prepare Ali Maher’s contract. However, Abu Zahra said the new manager gave greater attention to selecting his coaching staff than to negotiating the details of his own deal.

“Hany Abou Rida asked Khaled El-Dirandaly and Tarek Abou El Enein to draft Ali Maher’s contract with the national team, but Ali Maher was more concerned with forming his coaching staff than with the details of the contract,” said Abu Zahra.

The association approved Maher’s choices for his backroom team, with Abu Zahra describing them as successful appointments. He also said Maher’s coaching approach was based on detailed, scientific methods.

“We approved Ali Maher’s choices for the coaching staff, and they were all successful choices. Ali Maher follows a coaching school that relies on science in every detail,” he said.

Abu Zahra praised Bassem Ali’s conduct and comments after the player was left out of the national team. He added that Hany Abou Rida had instructed that Bassem Ali should obtain the appropriate coaching licences and join the nearest available national-team setup.

“Bassem Ali deserves praise for his character, manners and the way he spoke after being excluded from the national team,” Abu Zahra said.

He also praised Mohamed Salah for the effort he continues to make with his team-mates and with Egypt’s younger-age national teams.

Egypt won Ali Maher’s first match in charge 5-0 against Malawi in the third round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.