Ali Maher outlines his vision for Egypt and stresses Mohamed Salah’s importance
Egypt’s new head coach Ali Maher said he aims to build a team that is strong in attack and defence, capable of competing, achieving positive results and playing entertaining football. He said he had taken the job to serve Egyptian football and continue the previous work, thanking Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan.
Egypt’s new head coach, Ali Maher, said he aims to build a team that is strong in attack and defence, capable of competing, achieving positive results and playing entertaining football for the fans. He explained that he had taken charge to serve Egyptian football and continue the previous work, and thanked Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan.
Maher described Mohamed Salah as one of the key figures for the coming period, and indeed the best player in Egypt’s history, calling him a role model for his teammates on and off the pitch. He also urged the fans to support the players, noting that achieving the national team’s goals requires hard work, perseverance and everyone pulling together.
His comments came as he announced his first official squad, comprising 26 players, for the matches against Malawi in the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The squad saw the return of Mohamed El Shenawy, who missed the previous camp for technical reasons, and Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, after recovering from injury, as well as the inclusion of Mahmoud Hamdy El Wensh, Mohamed Shehata and Nasser Maher after a lengthy absence.
Maher also called up Modern Sport striker Mahmoud Mamdouh for the first time, after he topped the Egyptian league’s scoring charts this season. The squad’s goalkeepers are Mohamed El Shenawy, Mehdi Soliman, Mostafa Shobeir and Mohamed Alaa; the defenders are Mahmoud El Wensh, Hossam Abdel Meguid, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Mahmoud Marei, Mohamed Hany, Karim Hafez, Ahmed Fattouh and Tarek Alaa; the midfielders are Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lashin, Mahmoud Saber, Mohamed Shehata, Nasser Maher, Ibrahim Adel, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Haitham Hassan; and the forwards are Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Hamza Abdelkarim and Mahmoud Mamdouh.