History: Ilorin-born Coach Ali Zubair Qualifies Telecom SC to quarter-final of Egyptian Cup
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Head Coach of Telecom SC of Egypt, Coach Ali Zubair has achieved an outstanding feat of qualfiying the team to their first-ever quarter-final appearance in the Egyptian Cup following a 2–1 victory over Pharco on Tuesday in the round of 16 game of Egyptian Cup.
The round-of-16 victory comes on the back of another major scalp for Telecom, who had earlier knocked out Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the round of 32 — a result that sent shockwaves across Egyptian football, underlined the immediate impact of Zubair since taking charge and added to his growing reputation as one of Africa’s most astute young tacticians.
Telecom SC, led with composure and tactical discipline, took the lead in the 17th minute through Eid Ahmed, whose well-taken strike rewarded the team’s early dominance.
Nigerian forward Nwanna Okechukwu doubled the advantage in the 46th minute to put Telecom firmly in control. Although Karim El Tayeb pulled one back for Pharco in the 54th minute, Zubair’s side held on resolutely to secure the historic qualification.
Notably, Coach Aliyu Zubair only joined Telecom SC in October last year, yet his influence has been immediate and profound. In just a few months, he has transformed the team into a fearless and well-organised unit capable of competing with — and defeating — the best in Egypt.
Zubair’s success in Egypt is a continuation of an impressive coaching résumé built in Nigeria. He is a former winner of the Nigerian Federation Cup with Elkanemi Warriors and has also achieved the rare feat of promoting two different clubs Gombe United and Elkanemi Warriors to premier league.
Beyond club football, Zubair also serves as the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, where he is widely respected for his ability to nurture young talents and instill tactical intelligence, discipline, and winning mentality.
With Telecom SC now firmly in the quarterfinals of the Egyptian Cup, attention continues to focus on Coach Aliyu Zubair, whose coaching prowess, adaptability, and consistent success across borders signal the rise of a truly elite African football manager.
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