Shabana turn to Egyptian as new head coach
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 03.07.26. | 16:35
The 40-year-old has been in football management for the last 15 years
FKF Premier League side Shabana FC have announced the appointment of Ahmed Fathi Abdalla Ibrahim as the team’s new head coach ahead of the 2026-2027 season.
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The Glamour Boys unveiled the Egyptian in an official press conference at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, 3 July.
Fathi, 40, comes in as a replacement for the team’s previous permanent head coach Peter Okidi, who was sacked in mid-March.
Shabana, following the exit of Okidi, did rely on assistant head coach Andrew Ongwae and current Nairobi United assistant coach Osborne Monday, to help them navigate a largely underwhelming season, albeit on an interim basis.
A largely unknown figure in Kenyan circles, Fathi joins Shabana boasting of a storied managerial career, that has lasted over 15 years.
The CAF A Licence holder has worked in teams across his home country Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain, Japan and Ghana.
Though carrying those vast experiences, Fathi has only been head coach once in his career, holding the role at Ghana’s Swedru All Blacks FC from January 2025 to January this year.
During his time at his latest club, Fathi won just two of his side’s opening 10 matches of last season, before being booted out in unclear circumstances in early January.
His previous other roles have seen him serve as Assistant Manager at Johor FC, Ismaily SC, El Gouna FC, Bank El Ahly SC, Ghazl El Mahalla, and FELDA United in Malaysia.
His first task at Shabana will be to kickstart preparations for next season, where he is expected to work with Green Commandos coach Hesbon Nyabinge and the aforementioned Ongwae as his assistants, and Rwanda's Corneill Hategekimana as strength and conditioning coach.
Shabana, having flirted with the idea of winning a league title last season, fell off below their expectations finishing fifth with 52 points.
Fathi will now have his hands full, in making the team’s dream come true next season.