Ali Maher has signalled a more conciliatory approach towards Egypt’s domestic coaches after beginning his tenure with a 5-0 victory over Malawi in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The emphatic win at Cairo Stadium was Egypt’s first match under Maher and offered an early indication of the style he wants to establish. He said supporters deserved to see entertaining football, with the national team imposing its identity on opponents rather than relying on results alone.
Maher said his aim was for Egypt to attack “ferociously” and defend with the same intensity. He felt his players applied those principles particularly well in the first half as they sought to settle the match early.
The manager believes Egypt have players capable of producing powerful performances against any opponent. He compared the team to a lion, reflecting his desire to build a side with courage, personality and the ability to control games instead of simply reacting to its opponents.
Maher also explained some of his tactical decisions. Marwan Attia was introduced in the second half to help Egypt regain possession during periods when Malawi controlled the ball, while the team continued to seek numerical superiority in attacking areas.
He said the squad had worked on pressing, attacking and defending aggressively in training, and that the players’ ability to execute those ideas against Malawi was an important step. However, Maher acknowledged that the limited number of training sessions available to national-team managers remained a significant challenge.
A different tone towards domestic coaches
One of Maher’s most notable messages concerned his relationship with coaches in the Egyptian league. “I thank all the coaches in the Egyptian league. I am one of the products of this competition, and I know how much suffering and effort they put in to produce players of high quality,” he said.
His comments contrast with those made previously by Hossam Hassan, whose criticism of the domestic competition caused considerable debate. Hassan said: “There is no team in the Egyptian league that plays football, and Egypt’s performance against Angola was much better than the performances of the teams in Egyptian league matches.”
Maher said the league’s coaches should be viewed as partners in developing the national team. He stressed that relations should be based on co-operation and appreciation rather than criticism, given that the clubs remain the main source of players for Egypt.
He added that the national-team door was open to everyone and that selection would be based on performances rather than reputation or pre-existing assumptions. Mahmoud Mamdouh, the league’s leading scorer, and Nasser Maher were cited as examples of players whose domestic form had earned them an opportunity.
Praise for Mohamed Salah
Maher also praised Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward scored twice against Malawi. He described the captain as a role model on and off the pitch and repeated his previous description of Salah as “the best thing that has happened to Egyptian football”.
The manager said Mohamed Salah deserved treatment befitting his status and that his experience could benefit the squad both technically and within the dressing room.
Maher said Mohamed Hany’s goal came from rehearsed movements designed to exploit a numerical advantage around the opposition penalty area. Hany had practised the routine several times with Ahmed Fattouh before converting it in the match.
The coaching staff are continuing to study domestic matches and monitor players closely while identifying areas for improvement. Maher said most of their time since taking charge had been spent in meeting rooms, leaving only to sleep and pray before returning to work.
