FAM downplays Egypt coach’s firing

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says the Flames are not reading much into the firing of Egypt National Football Team coach Hossam Hassan.

The Egypt Football Federation announced Hassan’s dismissal on Saturday for what the soccer federation called “a negative impact on the positive image of the team”.

The Flames (in red) in previous action against Egypt. | Courtesy of FAM

The dismissal came six days before the record seven-time African champions host the Malawi National Football Team in a Group B Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier in Cairo this Friday.

The two teams will meet again in the return leg on November 18 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Reacting to the development in an interview yesterday, FAM spokesperson Collins Nsunza said: “Of course, whenever a team sacks its manager, the expectation is always that results will improve, but that is not always the case.

“He [Hassan] has been a great manager who guided the team to the Round of 16 at the World Cup, which is a remarkable achievement.

“However, our focus will be on our own team and ensuring that we get the positive result we desperately need.”

Football analyst George Chiusiwa also advised the Flames not to read much into Hassan’s firing.

He said: “The dismissal of Hassan as coach for the Pharaohs after excellently guiding the team during his tenure should not mean much to the Flames considering that the circumstances, reasons and factors of his firing have nothing substantive about Egypt’s performance under the gaffer.

“The fact that his sacking comes two months after signing a new contract with the Egypt Football Association until 2030 tells a bigger story that he has left the team in excellent shape and his departure has not meaningfully affected the seven-time Afcon champions.”

Chiusiwa said the Egyptians are still a solid force and Malawi should brace for a tougher battle as the new Pharaohs’ coach Ali Maher would want to impress the Egyptian football lovers and their FA.

“The Egyptians started believing in the team once again under Hassan because of the promising football performances in continental competitions and at the recent 2026 Fifa World Cup. It is a very incomprehensible situation that Hassan has been relieved of his duties after he polished the Egyptians’ football project well,” he said.

Chiusiwa said the Flames should expect meeting familiar foes.

“Thus, it will not be easy for Malawi against Egypt even with the new coach in the dugout for the North Africans,” said Chiusiwa.

The Egyptian Football Association did not elaborate in a statement on Hassan’s dismissal, adding only that “maintaining the team’s stability is a paramount priority” that cannot be compromised.

Egyptian media believed the decision had more to do with Hassan’s personal life than rumors of disagreements with Egypt players including star forward Mohamed Salah.

Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation banned Hassan last week from appearing in all media outlets, an unprecedented decision against a national coach. That followed disputes in Hassan’s personal life becoming public.

He was appointed Egypt coach in 2024 and became the first former Egypt player to coach the national team at a World Cup this year. Egypt was knocked out by Argentina in the last 16.

The EFA immediately replaced Hassan with Ali Maher, a long-time head coach in the Egyptian Premier League currently leading fourth-placed Ceramica Cleopatra.

Maher must get quickly up to speed. Egypt plays Malawi on November 13 and 17 in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt leads Group B.

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