Former Flying Eagles and El-Kanemi Warriors head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has joined Egyptian second division side Telecom SC, also known as We Sporting Club, on a two-year contract.
Zubairu, who was unveiled by the club’s leadership at their Cairo headquarters, will be assisted by his compatriot and former Flying Eagles assistant coach, Lukman Ijaiya.
His appointment marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first Nigerian and the first non-Arab or non-European to coach the club, and only the second Nigerian to manage in Egypt’s professional leagues.
He follows in the footsteps of Emmanuel Amuneke, who was appointed manager of Egyptian Premier League club Misr El-Makkasa in February 2021. Amuneke’s role was later changed to Director of Academies a month later in March 2021.
Telecom SC is also referred to as We Sporting Club, are currently 7th on the table with four wins, six draws and one defeat after eleven matches. The Cairo-based side is affiliated with the state-owned Telecom Egypt Company and is pushing for promotion to the Egyptian Premier League.
Zubairu steps into the job after leaving El-Kanemi Warriors in June 2025 to focus on his role with Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles.
Aliyu Zubairu signing his contract papers at the Club headquarters in Cairo .Photo Credit: X
During his two-year spell with the Maiduguri-based club, he guided them to promotion from the Nigeria National League (NNL) in his debut season and led them to their first-ever President Federation Cup triumph in the 2023/24 campaign.
Under his watch, El-Kanemi also made their CAF Confederation Cup debut, exiting in the first preliminary round.
At international level, Zubairu guided the Flying Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Egypt, before bowing out to Argentina in the round of 16 at the U-20 World Cup.
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Before joining El-Kanemi, he handled Gombe United and Wikki Tourists. According to Transfermarkt, he has managed over 120 matches since 2017, with 40 wins, 37 draws and 46 defeats across both club and national team levels.
Aliyu Zubairu during his unvieling ceremony in cairo.Photo Credit: X
Telecom SC rose to national prominence in the 2007/08 season, when they earned promotion to the Egyptian Premier League. The club became widely known the following year under legendary Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan, who briefly managed the team during the 2008/09 campaign.
Despite impressive displays, they were relegated in controversial circumstances and have remained in the second tier since.
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Telecom SC are aiming to reclaim their Premier League status and restore their reputation among Egypt’s elite clubs. The team also features Nigerian midfielder Abdulwaheed Titiloye, providing Zubairu with a familiar presence as he begins his Egyptian adventure.
