Months after the Egyptian Football Association rewarded Hossam Hassan with a contract that was supposed to run until 2030, the same board sent him home. The decision, announced on Saturday, came three days after Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation banned Hassan from appearing on local broadcasters over a case tied to his private life.
The EFA said it had reviewed the past weeks and concluded the fallout was hurting “the positive image and stability” of the national team. The board framed the split as a contractual parting with Hassan and his entire technical and administrative staff.
The complaint that triggered the media ban
Hassan’s lawyers had filed a complaint against his former wife, Dina Mostafa, publicly known as “Dan Adam”, alleging the forgery of official documents and bigamy. Her representatives denied the allegations.
The regulator’s ban followed, and within 72 hours the federation moved too. The former Egypt international Mido had warned back in September that the atmosphere around the squad had spiralled out of control.
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Salah subbed off and a FIFA ban for the twins
The football side of Hassan’s tenure had already soured before his private life became the story. Mohamed Salah was taken off in the 60th minute of a 0-0 home draw with Angola in September, and the Liverpool forward stayed away from games played on artificial pitches that followed.
FIFA had earlier handed Hassan and his twin brother Ibrahim Hassan, the team director, a three-match ban for criticising the referee after Egypt’s 3-2 defeat by Argentina in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. That knockout match was the furthest Egypt had ever gone at a World Cup, and the EFA responded by extending Hassan’s deal until 2030.
Hassan leaves after 38 matches in charge, with 21 wins, 10 draws and seven defeats. He had been appointed in early 2024 as the successor to Rui Vitória, and also took Egypt to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
A Guardiola admirer inherits the Pharaohs
The federation has turned to Ali Maher, the Ceramica Cleopatra head coach, who takes charge of the national team immediately. The 52-year-old has worked his way up through the Egyptian Premier League with Smouha, ENPPI, Al Masry and Modern Sport, winning the Egyptian League Cup with Ceramica Cleopatra. Egyptian reporting describes him as an attack-minded coach who cites Pep Guardiola as his touchstone.
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Maher’s first camp opens straight into a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Malawi, at home on 13 November and away on 17 November.
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