Egyptian FA thanks Hossam Hassan and names Ali Maher to lead national team

In early November 2026, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), the country's governing body for the sport, announced the end of Hossam Hassan's work with the national team. The statement thanked Hossam and his twin brother Ibrahim, who had worked alongside him in the technical set-up, for their service.

The federation said Ali Maher, a respected Egyptian coach, would take over the technical duties of the national team. The announcement did not frame the change as a long-term plan, and it left open how permanent the new arrangement would be.

The Hassan brothers were among the best-known figures in Egyptian football, both as former players and as coaches, so their departure drew wide attention from fans and the media. It also prompted debate about the reasons behind the decision and about who had influenced it. That debate later widened to include questions over the role of the team's senior players, which is why this announcement is the starting point for the story that followed.