The Qatar national basketball team will face Lebanon in a highly-anticipated opening match of the 31st FIBA Asia Cup 2025, hosted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, today. The tournament features 16 competing teams and will conclude on August 17.
The clash, set for 9pm today marks the start of Group A, widely regarded as the toughest in Asia Cup history, featuring Qatar, Lebanon, South Korea and defending champions Australia, winners of the 2017 and 2022 editions. This formidable group intensifies the challenge for all teams vying for the top spot or qualification to the knockout stages.
Returning to the competition after an eight-year absence, Qatar, under the guidance of Turkish coach Hakan Demir, blends international experience with youthful energy. The squad boasts a balanced roster, including American professional Brandon Goodwin, alongside Alain Hadzibegovic, Seydou Ndoye, Zain Eddin Badri, Tyler Harris, Aladji Magassa, Omar Saad, Mustafa Ndao, Mohammed Bashir, Babacar Dieng, Abdulrahman Saad, and Mahmoud Darwish.
The delegation is led by Saadoun Sabah al-Kuwari, General Secretary of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams, supported by team manager Jassim Ibrahim Ashknani and administrative assistant Nabil Juma.
The technical staff, headed by Coach Demir, includes assistants Cengiz Karadag, Abdu Su, Attila Yapcilar, and Mohammed Fural, with medical support from Dr. Adel Salem, Dr. Adel Hormia, and physiotherapist Nikasio Sagayno.
Qatar though underdogs will not be taken lightly by anyone as they are hungry to prove themselves worthy, being the hosts of the next FIBA Basketball World Cup set in 2027. Not only are they gearing up for the sport's biggest stage but Qatar are also looking to bring the country back to medal contention in the tilt, something that they haven't done in about two decades.
The last time Qatar stood at the podium was in 2005 in their own home soil, where they completed a back-to-back bronze finish - which to this day remain as the only medals they've won in this event.
Lebanon, runners-up in the previous edition and four-time finalists, enter the tournament with high ambitions, led by star player Wael Arakji, alongside Omar Jamaluddin, Ali Mansour, Ali Mezher, Sergio Darwish, and others, under Serbian coach Miodrag Perisic.
Qatar’s Group A journey continues with matches against South Korea on August 8 and Australia on August 10. Group B includes Japan, Iran, Syria, and Guam; Group C comprises China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia; while Group D features the Philippines, New Zealand, Iraq, and Chinese Taipei.
The tournament follows a group-stage format, with group leaders advancing directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams compete in crossover elimination matches to determine the remaining qualifiers.
Historically, Lebanon holds the record as the top Arab team, reaching the finals in 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2022. Qatar achieved notable success with third-place finishes in 2003 and 2005. China leads the Asia Cup with 16 titles, followed by the Philippines with five, Iran with three, and Australia with two. No Arab team has yet claimed the title, despite ongoing efforts to elevate their standing in Asia.
The FIBA Asia Cup, initiated in 1960 in Manila, Philippines, as the ABC Championship, has long served as a qualifier for the World Championship and Olympics, with the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea among its early champions.
