Lead:
Ali Maher has taken over as Egypt national team technical director following Husam Hassan's departure, announcing his first squad for two Malawi matches in African Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers. The transition sparked commentary from former players defending Hassan's legacy while Maher begins his mandate.
Top Stories:
Al-Ahly vs Al-Sekka Al-Hadid — Coach Al-Hussein Ammouta praised forward Ahmad Syed Zizo after a standout performance in the Egypt Cup Round of 32 match, telling him to score two goals per game and maintain his starting position if he sustains that output.Mohamed Barakah defends Mohamed Salah — The former Al-Ahly and Egypt player rejected accusations that Salah interferes in national team management, stating Salah's interventions benefit the squad and that he refrained from opposing coach appointments during his tenure as national team director.Zamalek targets midseason friendlies — Technical director Moatamad Gamal is planning friendly matches during the international break to prepare players returning from injury and give underutilized squad members competitive game time before the domestic campaign resumes.Enbaa sets conditions for Kalusha departure — Enbaa has not received formal offers from Al-Ahly for defender Kalusha but expressed willingness to sell him in January if the club receives an appropriate financial bid matching the player's valuation.John Edward rejects Zamalek settlement — The former Zamalek sports director refused the club's settlement proposal to resolve the contract dispute, holding firm on his full contractual entitlements rather than accepting a reduced payout, complicating negotiations.Mahmoud Bentayej returns to Zamalek training — The left-back was cleared medically after undergoing scans to confirm recovery from a hamstring tear, with plans to rejoin team training next week on a graduated program.What to Watch:
Wadi Degla face Electricity of Ismailia and Zed meet Semanod in Egypt Cup Round of 32 matches on Monday, 9 November 2026. Zamalek prepares for post-break resumption while Al-Ahly evaluates available transfer targets ahead of the January window.