Egypt's new coach Ali Maher names his first squad and calls Salah "the best player in Egypt's history"
Mohamed El Shenawy and Trezeguet return and league top scorer Mahmoud Mamdouh gets a first call-up for the two qualifiers against Malawi.
Cairo — Ali Maher, Egypt's new national football coach, has named his first squad, 26 players for the two matches against Malawi in the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Maher takes over from Hossam Hassan. Speaking to the Egyptian channel ON Sport, he said he had taken the job to serve Egyptian football and to build on the work of the previous staff, and he thanked Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan for their efforts.
"A strong team"
Maher said he wanted to build a strong, aggressive team in attack and defence that plays football the fans enjoy and gets results. He said the squad included some of the best players in Egypt's history, led by Mohamed Salah, whom he called "the best player in Egypt's history" and a role model on and off the pitch. He asked supporters to get behind the team.
Who is back
Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy returns after being left out of the last camp, and Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" of Saudi club Al Riyadh is back after injury. Zamalek's Mahmoud Hamdy "El Wensh" and Mohamed Shehata and Pyramids' Nasser Maher return after a long absence.
Modern Sport striker Mahmoud Mamdouh, the top scorer in the Egyptian league this season, receives his first call-up.
Source: Sky News Arabia, November 2026.
