Egypt Seek Win Over Malawi With Salah

Egypt will host Malawi at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday in the third round of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. The match, the first official game under new head coach Ali Maher, will be followed by a return fixture in Lilongwe on 17 November.

Egypt sit top of Group B with 4 points from two matches. Although level on points with Angola, they lead on goal difference. Egypt's opener against Angola ended 0-0. They then won 5-0 in Juba against South Sudan. Malawi are third with 3 points. After beating South Sudan 2-1, they lost 3-1 at home to Angola. Another defeat could leave Malawi further behind the leading teams.

Hossam Hassan's tenure ended on 7 November. During his two years and nine months in charge, Hassan led Egypt to fourth place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. At the World Cup, the team reached the round of 16. However, inconsistent performances in recent months led to his departure. Hassan's last match was a friendly against South Africa in Cairo on 4 October, which Egypt lost 1-0. Under Hassan, Egypt recorded 23 wins, 10 draws and 6 defeats in 39 matches. Yet in their previous nine matches, they had won only two in regular time. The Egyptian Football Association, announcing the separation, pointed to concerns about the national team's image and stability.

Ali Maher is a former forward who played for Al Ahly and wore the Egypt shirt. Most recently he coached Ceramica Cleopatra. Maher says the current squad is made up of experienced players, but that he has little time to adapt the team to his methods before the November international window. The coach describes this generation as one of the strongest the country has had. Maher called Salah Egypt's greatest player and stressed that he is an important role model for young players.

Salah's departure from Liverpool has not reduced his importance to the national team. Now playing for Trabzonspor, Salah returns to the squad after missing the matches against South Sudan and South Africa.