Egypt head coach Ali Maher has used his first match in charge to set out an attacking philosophy and signal a more cooperative relationship with the country’s club managers.
His side began his tenure with a 5-0 victory over Malawi at Cairo Stadium in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The emphatic result offered an early indication of Maher’s desire for Egypt to control matches rather than rely solely on results.
Maher said Egyptian supporters deserved to see entertaining football and a team capable of imposing its style on opponents. He called for the Pharaohs to attack “with ferocity” and defend with the same intensity, adding that his players had followed those instructions particularly well in the first half as they sought to settle the match early.
He compared Egypt to a lion, saying the national team had players with the quality to produce strong performances against any opponent. His aim, he indicated, is to build a side with the personality and courage to take control rather than wait for the opposition to dictate the game.
The coach also explained that Marwan Attia was introduced in the second half to help Egypt regain possession during periods when Malawi had more of the ball. The change was also intended to preserve an attacking numerical advantage.
Maher said training had focused on pressing, attacking and defending aggressively, while acknowledging that limited time with national teams remains a major challenge for international coaches.
A different tone on club football
One of Maher’s most notable messages was directed towards Egypt’s club coaches. He said: “I thank all the Egyptian league coaches. I am one of the products of this competition, and I know the scale of the hardship and effort they put in to produce high-quality players.”
That approach contrasts with comments previously made by former Egypt manager Hossam Hassan, who said: “There is no team in the Egyptian league playing football, and Egypt’s performance against Angola was much better than the performances of the teams in Egyptian league matches.”
Hassan’s remarks prompted widespread debate and contributed to tensions with several league managers. Maher, by contrast, stressed that those coaches are important partners in developing the national team and that their relationship with the national set-up should be based on cooperation and appreciation.
He added that the door remained open to all players, with selection based on performances rather than reputation or earlier assumptions. Mahmoud Mamdouh, the league’s leading scorer, and Nasser Maher were cited as examples of players whose domestic form could earn them an opportunity with the Pharaohs.
Maher also praised Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward scored twice against Malawi, describing him as a role model on and off the pitch. He repeated his earlier assessment that Salah is “the best thing to happen to Egyptian football” and said he deserved treatment befitting his status.
The coach said Mohamed Hany’s goal came from work on creating overloads around the opposition penalty area. Hany and Ahmed Fattouh had rehearsed the movement several times in training.
Maher added that the staff were continuing to study domestic matches and monitor players closely. He said much of their time was spent in meeting rooms, leaving only for sleep and prayer before returning to their work.
