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DOHA: Tennis Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic of Serbia on Monday said the ‘majority of the players’ are unhappy at the outcome of Jannik Sinner’s doping resolution announced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) three days ago.Djokovic, winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, was speaking after he helped Spanish tennis veteran Fernando Verdasco to win their doubles match on day one of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.Last year in March world No.1 Sinner tested positive for traces of clostebol twice. Sinner, who initially was exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in August 2024, faced a potential two-year ban after a WADA appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in December.In a surprising turn of events, WADA withdrew its appeal and agreed to a three-month ban for Sinner. The Italian readily agreed to the three-month ban.Sinner’s suspension, running from February 9-May 4, will allow him to compete in the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, which starts on May 25 at Roland Garros.There’s been a global outrage - mostly led by past and present players - at the ‘leniency’ accorded to the Italian who won two Grand Slams in 2024 and the Australian Open last month.“I’ve seen the news and particularly the two cases of Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner have attracted a lot of attention and it’s not a good image for our sport, that’s for sure,” Djokovic said on Monday when asked about his opinion on the Sinner doping scandal.“There’s a consensus or, I would say, a majority of the players that I’ve talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, that are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled. A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening,” Djokovic said during his first news conference at the ATP 500 event in Doha.“Sometimes in one case you can have a large contamination, in some cases you have a smaller one, like in his case. But the problem is that right now, there is a lack of trust generally from the tennis players, both male and female, towards WADA and ITIA, and the whole process,” he added.“It appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers and what not,” the 37-year-old added.“Sinner got suspended for three months because of the mistakes and the negligence of his team members that are working on the (ATP) Tour, so that’s also something that I personally and a lot of players find a bit strange. Also the fact that there are so many inconsistencies between the cases (involving Sinner and other players),” Djokovic said.Djokovic gave the examples of banned women players Simona Halep of Romania and Tara Moore of Great Britain. “We have seen on social media Simona Halep and Tara Moore and some other players that are maybe less known that have been struggling to resolve their cases for years, or have gotten the ban for years,” Djokovic said.The Serbian said it was time to sort out the anti-doping system.“I think right now it’s the ripe time for us to address the system, because the system and the structure obviously doesn’t work on anti-doping, it’s obvious. I hope in the near future the governing bodies are going to come together, of our Tours and the tennis ecosystem, and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes,” Djokovic said. “It’s inconsistent and it appears to be very unfair. We will see what happens in the next period, whether this whole case is going to attract more attention and shine the light on the other cases of the lower-ranked players. We have to bear in mind that Sinner and Swiatek at the time were No.1s in the world when we had those announcements happening. It’s not good for our sport in general and I just hope somebody will will come up with a better strategy for the future,” the Serbian said.Djokovic slammed the ‘inconsistencies’ exhibited by the decision making body in recent times.“The inconsistency is something that frustrates all the players. If you are going to treat every case individually or independently, which is what’s happening, then there’s no consistency, then there is no transparency. Some cases are transparent, some are not,” Djokovic said.“There’s a vague rule I read that within a reasonable time you have to provide information where you got contaminated substance. He provided it in, as I understand, a six-hour window. But it doesn’t say in the rules it’s a six-hour window, it’s a reasonable time. So what’s the reasonable time?“So, we’re either going to agree that all the cases will be transparent from the beginning, or all will be kept private until their result.“I have no opinion of that right now. I think it’s important to open the discussion, and then let’s see what’s best for the sport,” he said.

Asian champions Qatar on Thursday added key points in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as they beat Kyrgyzstan 3-1 at Al Thumama Stadium.Winless prior to arriving for Thursday’s home clash, Qatar saw striker Almoez Ali score from close range in 39th minute before Kyrgyzstan’s Tamirlan Kozubaev deflected one into his own net while stopping an Akram Afif cross from the flank in the 63rd minute.DOHA: Despite being overwhelmed in the first half and less effective in the second, Kyrgyzstan pulled one back after a powerful strike into the top of the net in the 76th minute by Alimardon Shukurov.Five minutes later, a Kyrgyzstan defender fumbled with an easy clearance close to the corner flag. The ball landed at Almoez’s feet and the Qatari quickly sent in a through ball to unmarked 18-year-old Ibrahim al-Hassan who beat keeper Erzhan Tokotaev with a slick shot.The 3-1 win, somewhat fortuitous, was a much-needed relief for coach Marquez Lopez, the man who guided Qatar to the Asian Cup title win just eight months ago.Last month, UAE shocked hosts Qatar 3-1 before Al Annabi dropped points against DPR Korea in a 2-2 draw in an away tie on Sept 10.Lopez on Thursday sounded thrilled after the 3-1 win.“The team played well. We made sure we had early dominance and control over the game. The players’ dedication and determination to achieve the desired result was good to see,” Lopez said on Thursday.“A win was our primary objective from the outset. I was impressed by the team’s ability to maintain pressure on Kyrgyzstan throughout the first half,” he said.“The three points earned in this match provide a crucial boost to Qatar’s qualification hopes. The importance of these points can’t be understated. The team’s goal is to avoid dropping any points and strive for positive results in every match we play. We need to maintain our focus in each encounter given the challenging nature of the qualifiers.“The upcoming match against Iran is a particularly difficult test. Hard work and dedication to secure the necessary points is what we want,” Lopez said after the match.Qatar dominated the early stages of the match on Thursday, with several close attempts to break the deadlock. Almoez and Abdulaziz Hatem had a chance to deflect a cross in the second minute while Afif’s shot from inside the box was blocked for a corner in the third.Abdelkarim Hassan’s left-footed drives from long range in the fifth and seventh minutes failed to find the target, and Edmilson Jr’s shot from a distance in the ninth also went wide.Afif’s free-kick narrowly missed the goal post in the 12th minute and Hassan’s sliding tackle on a cross from inside the Kyrgyz box in the 16th lacked pace.Kyrgyzstan’s first real attack came in the 16th minute when Joel Kojo’s powerful shot went off target. Qatar continued to press forward, with Ismail Mohammed finding Edmilson in the 19th minute, but the latter failed to connect properly. Bualem Khoukhi’s snap-header from inside the Kyrgyz box in the 23rd minute narrowly missed the goalmouth.Keeper Meshaal Barshim made a crucial save at the half-hour mark, stopping a deflected shot by Kojo from close range following a long run into the Qatar box. The match remained scoreless until the 39th minute with hosts Qatar dominating possession but struggling to convert their chances.The breakthrough came in the 39th minute. Almoez, Qatar’s talismanic striker, capitalized on a fortunate deflection off the crossbar after a header by Abdelrahman Fahmi. Almoez used his thigh to deflect the ball into an unguarded net.The second half saw a more physical and intense battle between the two sides. Kyrgyzstan increased their attacking efforts, but Qatar’s defence remained resolute. The visitors had a few promising moments, but they were unable to break down Qatar’s organised rearguard.Despite numerous attempts from both teams, the score remained unchanged until the final whistle. Qatar’s better finish proved to be decisive, securing a vital three points in their quest for future success.Qatar vs Iran to be played in UAE, says AFCKuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Thursday that the World Cup qualifier Group A match on October 15 between Iran and Qatar will be played at a neutral venue in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision to host the match at a neutral venue was taken after careful consideration of the prevailing security situation and in consultation with FIFA and the relevant stakeholders. The match will kick off at 8pm local time and details regarding the specific venue in the UAE will be updated in due course.

Doha: Coach Marquez Lopez on Wednesday urged Qatar players to remain ‘calm, focused’ as they aim to clinch their first win in the current yet crucial phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.Today Qatar - the current Asian champions - will face Kyrgyzstan at Al Thumama Stadium where the hosts will aim to get their first win after a shock home loss (3-1) and an unexpected 2-2 draw last month against the UAE and DPR Korea respectively.Lopez, who guided Qatar to their second successive Asian Cup title win in February this year, on Wednesday minced no words in admitting the huge challenge in front of captain Akram Afif and his Qatar teammates.“We know the difficulty of this game and our goal is to achieve our first victory in the qualifiers,” Lopez said during a pre-match press conference at match venue Al Thumama Stadium.“All players are ready for the match, and we need to stay calm, focused, and play without pressure to secure the win,” the Spaniard added. “We have many outstanding players and everyone is prepared for this challenge,” he warned.Qatar will pin hopes on Afif - by far the home team’s best player - Al Duhail forward Almoez Ali and recently-naturalised Edmilson Jr.Last week, Lopez also recalled experienced defender Abdelkarim Hassan who now plays for QSL side Al Wakrah. Hassan was a key player for Qatar in 2019 when they won the AFC Asian Cup title in the UAE.“Some players like Abdelkarim Hassan and Boualem Khoukhi deserve to be considered for the national team. Hassan’s recent performances with Al Wakrah have been impressive and Boualem has excelled with Al Sadd. Adding these players to the national team strengthens our squad,” Lopez said.Regarding Kyrgyzstan, who scored two goals against Uzbekistan and conceded one against Iran, Lopez said: “We’ve thoroughly studied them and understand their playing style. While they’ve scored goals, they’ve also conceded. We’re prepared for any scenario and have developed strategies to help us achieve our objectives.“Although we still have eight matches to go in the qualifiers, there’s still plenty of opportunity to secure a direct spot in the 2026 World Cup. We can achieve this by finishing first or second in our group. Despite some setbacks, we remain confident in our ability to succeed,” Lopez said.Qatar player Jassem Gaber on Wednesday said his team will be playing for an outright win in the key Group A clash set to kick-off at 7pm.“We’ve moved on from the past, and our focus is now on the upcoming match. Our goal is to win and secure the three points,” Gaber said on Wednesday. “The match is on our home soil and in front of our fans, which gives us great motivation as players,” he added.“We hope to see them (the fans) in the stadium with us. Our Morale is high in training and all players are ready to secure a win,” Gaber added.A victory over Kyrgyzstan today would be a significant morale boost ahead of Qatar’s match against Iran on Tuesday.Kyrgyzstan, despite losses to Iran (1-0) and Uzbekistan (3-2), proved to be formidable opponents. Although securing a top-two finish might be challenging due to the group’s strong competition, Kyrgyzstan has a realistic chance of advancing to the fourth round.There, they’ll compete for two additional spots in the Finals and could potentially pose a significant challenge to Qatar today.Kyrgyzstan coach Maksim Lisitsyn said on Wednesday: “We are fully aware of the strength of the Qatari team, and we will play to achieve victory. Our preparations have gone well but we faced some difficulties considering that some of the players only joined training in the past few days, but we are very confident in our ability to overcome what happened in the first and second rounds.”He explained: “We know the Qatari team well. They are champions of Asia in the last two editions. Therefore our task will not be easy. We know that we are heading towards a match during which we could face many difficulties. We will try to impose our style and not let Qatar play the way they want to.“I have had experience of playing in Qatari stadiums with the Kyrgyzstan U-23 team. Qatar has world-class stadiums,” he said.Former Qatar captain Ibrahim Khalfan said in an interview: “Beating Kyrgyzstan would be a significant step forward for Qatar’s World Cup dreams. Qatar team faces a challenging road ahead. Despite their initial struggles, it is important to maintain focus and determination. The team’s strong character, developed through their past successes, will be crucial in overcoming these obstacles.”“While the upcoming match against Kyrgyzstan won’t be easy, the coaching staff must devise effective offensive strategies to secure a victory.“I think the return of veteran full-back Abdelkarim Hassan will bring experience and solidity to the defence,” the retired Qatar player said.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday rallied for a fighting 3-1 win over Asian champions Qatar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Qatar opened the scoring through Ibrahim al-Hasan in the 38th minute in what was the 18-year-old’s first international goal for the home team.Harib Abdalla Suhail (68th minute), Khaled Ebraheim (80) and Ali Saleh (90+4) sealed UAE’s first over Qatar since Jan 2015. It was UAE’s first win on Qatar soil since 2001. It was Qatar’s first loss under new coach Marquez Lopez in over nine months. For rival coach Paulo Bento, it was a welcome relief for UAE who exited the AFC Asian Cup at the Round of 16 stage earlier this year in Qatar.“It was a difficult for us. We started well in the first half. We were the better side and succeeded in scoring the lead goal but missed some other opportunities,” Qatar defender Tareq Salman said.“In the second half, there were some individual mistakes that the UAE national team exploited to score three goals. The players feel we must work hard on correcting the mistakes in the future. We want to tell our fans that we will rectify our mistakes in the upcoming matches. We will work hard since the journey is still long in the qualifiers,” he added.While the first half belonged to Qatar, Bento’s spirited UAE side responded with three goals in the second. A bicycle kick in the second minute by Qatar forward Jassem Gaber inside the UAE box was wayward but the intent was obvious from the home side.Defender Lucas Mendes headed away on a loopy cross from Kouame Autonne following a deep lob from the flank by Yahya al-Ghassani with a cross in the 12th minute. The game got held up twice in quick succession when al-Ghassani (17h minute) and Yahia Nader (18th minute) called for medical help. In the 25th minute, UAE’s Autonne got booked with a yellow card for a reckless foul.Close to the half hour mark, Gaber headed from very close range but the ball flew high following an assist by striker Akram Afif with a cross following a corner.In the 35th minute, Al Duhail captain Almoez Ali launched a right-footed shot from the right side of the box but it was blocked following an assist by Ismail Mohamed. Three minutes later, Qatar opened the scoring thanks largely to Afif’s deft pass that found young al-Hassan close by. The 18-year-old slipped in a right-footed shot from the centre of the UAE box to the bottom right corner for the home team’s only goal.Six minutes into the second half, Afif drilled a right-footed shot from outside the box but the ball flew high and wide of the UAE goalmouth following a corner kick. Close to the hour-mark, Afif found Almoez with a loopy header near the UAE box but UAE’s Ivorian-born defender Autonne was alive to the situation to thwart the Al Duhail forward.UAE’s Abdullah Hamad in a desperate attempt for an equaliser launched a long-range shot but was found wanting on the angle. Moments later, UAE’s Tahnoon al-Zaabi drilled a curling left-footed drive from outside the Qatar box. Al-Zaabi’s shot hit the outside of the net with keeper Meshaal Barsham beaten by the flight of the ball in the 63rd minute.With momentum on their side, UAE produced a classy equaliser from inside the Qatar box. Suhail delivered a beautiful curling left-footed shot from about 10 yards out to bring things level at 1-1 at a packed Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium. The ball flew past the outstretched hand of keeper Barsham before thudding into the net.UAE continued to apply pressure with an attacking game in the last 20 minutes of the match resulting in two quick goals. In a fast break in the 80th minute, Ebraheim – after an assist from Suhail – drilled a left-footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner of Qatar goal.Substitute MacKenzie Hunt – after replacing al-Zaabi in the 89th minute – made an immediate impact. Four minutes into injury time, Hunt found Saleh with a through ball. Quick-footed Saleh had the time and space to drill a left-footed shot to the top left corner of the Qatar goalmouth.A few minutes earlier, Qatar had a penalty denied following a long VAR decision in the 86th minute.Qatar now fly to Laos to take on North Korea on September 10. Asian giants Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are the other teams in Group A.

Feared striker Almoez Ali said on Wednesday Qatar players are ‘passionate’ about qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Qatar, currently ranked 36 on the FIFA rankings, have never directly qualified for the game’s biggest spectacle held every four years. As hosts, Qatar featured in the last edition of the FIFA World Cup held in late 2022.The next FIFA World Cup will be jointly staged by the US, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.“Everyone knows how important the qualifying matches are for every side. This will be a tough road. We gathered 10 days ago. All the players are passionate about going through the qualifiers,” Almoez said during a press conference on Wednesday.Qatar, who are playing the UAE in a Group A clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium today, will be looking towards Almoez and fellow forward Akram Afif to lead the team’s attack.“I think, for us players, we all have one goal and that is to qualify for the World Cup. This is an important year for us. We have achieved a lot too,” Almoez added.Remaining unbeaten in seven matches, Qatar defended their Asian Cup title in Jan-Feb this year. Five years earlier, Qatar beat Japan in the final of the 2019 Asian Cup for their maiden continental success.“But there is something missing for this generation of players,” Almoez said in reference to Qatar seeking a direct entry to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “We have to achieve positive results in the qualifiers. We have to do it for Qatar,” Almoez said.“We are playing the UAE and we are fully ready for them,” the 28-year-old Al Duhail skipper said on Wednesday.“Our fans are the main motivation for the players. During the Asian Cup, we had the fans backing us and that feeling of fans supporting us was very good for the entire squad,” Almoez recalled.“Of course our team is fully ready and as a player I am fully confident. We will give our 110 percent. The fan support on our soil will give us great hope and backing,” he added.UAE centre-back Khalifa al-Hammadi said his side was aiming to pick up three points from their clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium today.“I would like to thank the Qatar Football Association for their hospitality. We are ready for this match. The players know the importance of this game since Qatar is a good team. We hope to perform well and take the three points,” al-Hammadi said at a press conference held at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Wednesday.“It’s a big dream for any player to qualify for the World Cup. The solidarity of our players and the support of the fans are also key ingredients. We hope to take game by game,” he added.“Let me assure you, we are ready for Qatar, They are very strong in the forward lines. We know the importance of these games. We hope to be ready physically and mentally.“Every game has a different context. We will try our best to get three points. We don’t have to think about the past results and focus on our game and only on this match,” the 25-year-old Al Jazira player explained.

Coach Marquez Lopez on Wednesday said Asian champions Qatar have put in the hard yards in the buildup to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the UAE.The two sides clash today at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium where Qatar will be looking to stretch their unbeaten streak against the UAE since 2015.“We will begin a whole new phase to qualify for the World Cup. We have done enough preparations and we have had enough time to do it,” Lopez said on Wednesday at a pre-match press conference. “In fact we had a good time (while preparing for the match),” the 62-year-old Spaniard added.Qatar, ranked 34 in the world, are tagged along with the UAE, Asian giants Iran, North Korea, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in Group A. Five days later, Qatar will face North Korea in Laos. UAE are ranked 69.Lopez, who took over from veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz in a shock Qatar Football Association move in December last year, was confident Qatar can progress from Group A. “This group is difficult. There are no easy teams. All teams have good players. But we trust the capability of our players. It will be a difficult mission. We know the journey (to the next World Cup) will be difficult but we can make progress from this group,” Lopez said.Lopez said his side is not daunted by the fact that Qatar have never directly qualified for the FIFA World Cup. “When selecting the players for any phase of matches, we expect them to be best for this phase. We know our team very well. I have seven years experience of coaching in Qatar. You use different formations. We trust them all,” Lopez said.Qatar, Lopez said, is ready for the UAE clash. “It is going to be a football game. We have analysed our rivals. We have previous experiences of playing against them. They have a very organised set up. They have a good coach. They are not an easy team to play,” Lopez said without elaborating.When reminded about Qatar dominating UAE in the last nine years, Lopez played down the statistical ascendancy over their neighbouring rivals. “In football there is no such thing as overconfidence when you look at some useless stats. If you think on those lines then it will be stupid. Overconfidence is bad for players and teams,” he said.“I have tried to give the same mentality to my players. We see them working hard. They are trying to qualify for the World Cup. They are doing everything so there can’t be a bigger motivation,” Lopez said.“I want to thank our fans who backed us during our Asian Cup campaign. We hope they come in droves again,” he quickly added.UAE coach Paulo Bento sounded wary of Qatar threat in today’s clash. “It will be a difficult game against a very good team. They are a well organised side with an experienced coach. He (Lopez) knows the context of this match. He knows our team. They have good quality on their side. They won the last two Asian Cup events,” Bento said on Wednesday.“We must perform really well. We must try to have a good organisation until the end of the game. We have to try to get the best possible result,” the Portuguese added. “This game will demand a lot of things – in the tactical and mental aspects for sure.“It’s important we remain in the game from the start until the end. To make this happen, it is important the players follow the team strategy in the entire game regardless of the result.“We have to show a personality against a strong team. We have to show the desire to get the best result. As I said before, the team that performs well and the team that follows the strategy will do well in this match,” he added.

Doha: Global high jump superstar Mutaz Barshim feels fit ahead of the new season’s opening competition today but the 32-year-old has his eyes fixed on another gold medal at this year’s Paris Olympic Games.The tall Qatari, who famously shared the high jump gold with Italian Gianmarco Tamberi at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, today faces world indoor champion Hamish Kerr in the men’s high jump in Chinese city of Xiamen.In a candid chat with the international media ahead of the opening round of the 2024 Wanda Diamond League, the three-time world high jump champion on Friday confidently said he can’t wait for the new season to commence.Excerpts from a Q&A session with Barshim:Q: It’s been six months since we last saw you compete. You were at the 2023 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. How has it been for you since your last competition?A: As you said my last competition was the (2023) Asian Games here in China. It was an amazing atmosphere then. It was a great competition. I really loved it. I am really happy to be back in China, competing again. It is a very important season. It is the Olympics season. The last six months were more of a relaxing time, to be honest. I was doing my recovery. I had plans to compete indoors but then I had some (injury) issues so we decided not to risk it. Now I am feeling healthy again. My training has been going well. I am happy where I am at the moment. But it’s my first meet of the season and I want to go out there and see what I can do. I am excited to compete.Q: Is there a certain height you would be happy with in the new season?A: It’s still April so I don’t know. I will be very happy if I win (in Xiamen). I want to push myself. I want to jump high. How high? I don’t know (smiles). I will go tomorrow (today) and see. I want to go and put on a good show.Q: Paris will be your fourth Olympics. Does it feel different or is it just another Olympics for you?A: My fourth Olympics, wow! It’s crazy. Definitely (it) feels different. For me, (competing at) Olympics was a dream, you know. I remember watching the Olympics on TV. I wanted to be there (competing) so bad. I told myself one day I will be there. Here I am - I have been to three Olympics. One silver, one gold and going for my fourth Olympics. You still get that tingle ‘it is an Olympics year’. So, it definitely feels different. I am just going to prepare myself to be ready to fight and hopefully be on the podium.Q: Did you enjoy the Asian Games last year?A: Yes, I definitely enjoyed the Asian Games last year. It was really amazing competing in China. The crowds were packed at the venue. The fans were really supportive, I loved it. Everything was really top-notch. Since then I have been having my break. It was like an off-season break with my family. Then I started my training again. I didn’t do the indoors because I had some minor injuries. I have overcome everything. So yeah, I feel good and feel healthy. When I feel good, I can jump. In terms of training. Because of injuries, I couldn’t do my regular training. I know I have a lot of work coming. I am really excited. The training is going how I want it to go. I had a lower back pain and a hip injury. They were not big injuries. I didn’t want to risk it. I am a smart athlete now. If I have a small niggle, I know I have to take care of it. I don’t want to miss three four months of action because of injuries that I didn’t take care of. I am older, wiser (laughs).Q: Your good friend Gianmarco Tamberi, the high jumper, could be the flag-bearer for Italy at the Paris Olympics. How do you see that?A: Oh yes, why not? He’s a great athlete. He is the Olympic champion. That would be really nice to see (smiles).

Striker Akram Afif Saturday scripted a fairytale performance for the ages with a hat-trick of goals as Qatar defended their AFC Asian Cup crown after a 3-1 demolition of Jordan in the final.Playing in front of 86,492 fans at the iconic Lusail Stadium, Afif converted three penalty kicks across two halves to help Qatar become the Asian champions for the second time in a row.With last night's heroic performance, Afif wrapped up the 24-team tournament with eight goals after exhibiting electric speed and match awareness in all the seven matches Qatar played.Qatar Saturday became the fifth country to win back-to-back AFC Asian Cup titles after South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Japan.The 27-year-old forward was Saturday declared the Most Valuable Player for his artistry in a trying semi-final against Iran before goal spree Saturday in the final against Jordan. Afif also won the Highest Scorer trophy.Qatar, who won the 2019 edition in the UAE five years ago, Saturday lagged behind in ball possession at 42 percent but demonstrated greater will to win after arriving with new coach Marquez Lopez just three weeks prior to the start of the tournament.Qatar stopper Meshaal Barsham, who stopped three penalties against Uzbekistan in their quarter-final win, was named the Best Goalkeeper. Barsham made a series of saves Saturday. Qatar also won the Fair Play Trophy.Afif converted his first penalty in the 22nd minute before Jordan equalized through Yazan Al-Naimat's smart finish in the 67th minute.Six minutes later, following a VAR review, Afif got the chance to score his second of the night in the 73rd minute. In injury time, Afif scored his third when another VAR decision favoured Qatar.After the final whistle, the Qatari players picked up Afif on their shoulders and then threw him in the air to celebrate their second successive Asian title glory."I would like to thank all Qataris. Congratulations to the coach and the fans. I can't really express what we feel but the coach worked really hard for us," Afif, who also scored from the penalty spot in the 2019 final against Japan, said Saturday."However, I want to tell the fans that there is more to come from us. I also would like to thank my teammates for having confidence in me to take the penalties. That gave me a lot of confidence for all three penalties. I think we deserved the win tonight," the Al Sadd star added.Qatar coach Lopez said Saturday: "I congratulate the Qatari people and players. We're so happy after winning this difficult game, the tension was high. Maybe we didn't play beautiful football today but everyone remembers the winner. I'm so happy for Akram, he deserved to win all the awards."Before the final kicked off, Iraq football legend and former AFC Asian Cup captain Younis Mahmoud unveiled the trophy.Qatar took the lead in the final when Afif was tripped inside the Jordan box in the 22nd minute by Jordan's Abdallah Nasib. The referee pointed to the spot kick which was easily converted by Afif.Perhaps fatigued from a draining semi-final against Iran, Afif started the clash slowly, producing a weak shot in the 9th minute, his first attack on Jordan goal. Shortly afterwards, al-Naimat produced a bullet from the edge of the Qatar box but his shot was palmed away by 'keeper Barsham.Jordan showed more intent with another attack when winger Musa al-Taamari slipped in a cross from the flank but his shot was collected in a slick manner by Barsham who beat Jordan's Ali Olwan tearing towards the ball.Seconds later Olwan was booked for rough contact after Barsham had collected the ball.After Afif's opening goal in the 22nd minute, Qatar maintained dominance with sharp moves in the first half. Soon after the half-hour mark, defender Lucas Mendes produced a snap-header off an Afif corner kick but the ball bounced in front of Jordan keeper Yazeed Abulaila and went over the crossbar.In injury time, Qatar's Mohamed Waad blocked a shot by al-Tamari from close range. At the hour-mark, Nizar al-Rashdan produced a bullet from the edge of the box but Barsham pushed the ball away for a corner. Seconds later, defender Yazan al-Arab managed a bicycle kick but Barsham remained alert to affect another save.In the 67th, Jordan equalised after al-Naimat received a long, loopy cross from the flank. He found space to aim with a crushing left-footed drive that sailed past Barsham.Thereafter it was Qatar's night as Afif made the most of two VAR decisions to seal his team's spectacular win. Afif scored his second goal after Mahmoud al-Mardi’s foul on Qatar's Ismaeel Mohamed. Jordan conceded their third penalty after goalkeeper Abulaila was judged to have tripped Boualem Khoukhi after a VAR review.

Qatar will be relying on ‘courage and determination’ to win the AFC Asian Cup final for the second time on Saturday when they face giant-killers Jordan, coach Marquez Lopez said on Friday.Defending champions Qatar are on a 13-match unbeaten streak after their stunning 3-2 win over Iran in the semi-finals on Wednesday. Jordan, coached by Hussein Ammouta, upset giants South Korea in their last-four clash on Tuesday to reach their first-ever Asian Cup final.A packed house of 88,000 is expected to watch the final at Lusail Stadium where Argentina lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy a little over a year ago.Qatar, who posted seven wins at the 2019 edition held in the UAE, have beaten Lebanon, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran before setting up a final date with surprise finalists Jordan.Chief striker Akram Afif has delivered dream performances having netted five times in six matches including the goal of the tournament against Iran on Wednesday when he hoodwinked four markers to score with a boomerang shot from the edge of the box.Fellow forward Almoez Ali has scored two goals at crunch moments while 2019 Asian Cup winning captain Hasan al-Haydos has been inspirational on the pitch with three goals.Young goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham - who stopped three penalties in the shootout against Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals - is expected to brave Jordanian attacks on Saturday with similar gusto.“We are here with the same courage and determination, aspiring only to win. That’s what matters most to us,” Lopez said at the pre-final news conference. “We are determined to compete fiercely and play our best to win the match. Second place will not be enough – we aim to be the best in Asia,” the 59-year-old added.“I’m confident all my players are more than capable and deserving of playing in this tournament. I have always emphasised knowing each player’s strengths and how they can contribute. Every player has played a role in getting us to where we are now. This is a fundamental part of our philosophy,” Lopez said. “In the final, there will always be pressure, especially against a team that has performed well throughout the tournament. However, ultimately, competition drives us, and each of us aims to emerge victorious,” he added.When reminded that Jordan savoured three days of rest following their semi-final against South Korea on Tuesday, Lopez quickly admitted: “It was a short turnaround (for Qatar), with players having only two days to recover after the semi-final (against Iran). Rest and recovery were crucial, especially considering we’re facing a team we highly respect.”Coach Lopez expressed his gratitude to his in-form trio of Afif, Almoez and al-Haydos who has gone past Lionel Messi in the list of most international caps. The 33-year-old Qatari forward has played 184 games.“Players are not machines; they run and play hard. It’s normal for their performance to fluctuate. Iran made a comeback and almost scored, but we also had chances to score. No player can maintain peak performance for the entire 90 minutes, but we were giving our best to secure the win,” Lopez said.The Spaniard was also quick to acknowledge that Jordan coach Ammouta - who formerly managed Al Sadd in Qatar Stars League from 2012-2105 - has inside knowledge on Qatari players.“Ammouta is exceptional, having experience coaching in Qatar,” Lopez said.Ammouta, who played for Qatar SC in 2003, on Friday said Jordan remain keen to go for their first-ever title win. “We don’t need to explain how important the final match is, as both teams want to win a historical title. We prepare for the final as normal, without adding any more pressure on the players, and we hope to produce a performance that reflects our team level, and what we produced to reach the final. This match is very important, and may witness the first major title for Jordan football,” Ammouta said on Friday.“I’m very satisfied with our achievement. It was a personal challenge for me to take Jordan to the final and I have achieved what I aimed for. We will have a full squad despite some minor injuries but the players will be ready,” he added.When reminded about Jordan’s 2-1 win over Qatar in a pre-tournament friendly, Ammouta said: “Qatar are defending champions and playing at home, making them formidable opponents. It’s not easy to play against them. It’s not easy to achieve what they have done.”He added: “We played a friendly match (before the tournament) and it was challenging to secure the win against Qatar. Despite anticipating difficulty, we are all united in aiming to cross the finish line successfully. We aim to exceed expectations.”

A pumped up Qatar Wednesday battled the odds in glorious fashion to carve out a fighting 3-2 win over Iran to reach the final of the AFC Asian Cup for the second successive time.Qatar, who are set to rise to 41 in FIFA rankings after their latest win, have set up the final against Jordan at Lusail Stadium on Saturday.The defending champions last night were guided home with an exhilarating display from striker Akram Afif who scored once and set the ball rolling for the other two goals as the hosts stopped Iran from reaching their first final since 1976.Afif probably scored the goal of the tournament in the 43rd minute when he hoodwinked three markers before he unleashed a curling right-footed drive that went to the left of Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.The other two goals for Qatar were scored by Jassem Gaber in the 17th minute after being fed by a low cross from Afif from the right flank. Almoez Ali, the MVP from Qatar's historic 2019 title win, delivered the winning goal in the 82 minute after a cross from Hatem Aziz who was fed by Afif at Al Thumama Stadium.With football icon David Beckham watching from the VIP enclosure, Qatar survived a fierce onslaught from Iran in the last 8 minutes of the feisty contest that saw 16 minutes of stoppage time added.The semi-final had everything. A red card, a series of in-your face verbal battles among the players of the two sides across the two halves and after-match clashes on the touchline near the team dugouts.The hotly-contested match saw Iran centre-back Shojae Khalilzadeh shown the red card following a VAR referral by the referee in injury time after a rough tackle on Afif who was clearly Qatar's X factor in the match."I'm very happy for everybody, the people of Qatar, the fans and the players. It was a complicated match but I think we played well. The players did not spare any effort," a beaming Qatar coach Marquez Lopez told reporters after the match."The players implemented my philosophy and ideas on the pitch so they deserve my thanks... Now we have one final step left to defend our title," the 59-year-old added. Qatar captain Hasan al-Haydos, who did not start the match, came on early in the second half.The match started off with Iran silencing the 40,342 fans at Al Thumama Stadium when Iran's Sardar Azmoun scored with a bicycle kick in the fourth minute from inside the Qatar box.Qatar's Gaber scored the euqaliser shortly afterwards when he benefited from a heavy deflection off Saeed Ezatolahi inside the Iran box with the ball looping into the net to the right of keeper Beiranvand.With the teams level, Afif produced a classic solo effort from close to the Iran box. Marked by three Iranian players, Afif swiveled and then after creating a tiny space, the 27-year-old Al Sadd star curled in a breathtaking shot that sailed into the net with swing and late dip. It was Afif's fifth goal of the tournament.Iran's Jahanbakhsh converted an easy penalty that was the result of VAR referral by referee Ahmad Alali following a handball by Qatar defender Ahmed Fatehi inside the box. In the dying seconds of the clash, Jahanbakhsh hit the Qatari goalpost to see his team's chances of equalizing in the tense semi-final evaporate into thin air.Afif - who was the star for the home side - failed to take advantage in a one-on-one battle with Iran keeper Beiranvand seconds after the half-hour mark. Late in the second half, Afif fed Almoez an easy cross but the Al Duhail skipper failed to convert with only keeper Beiranvand to beat.Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei apologised to team fans after the match."I want to apologise to the Iranian people because we had the responsibility to make them happy. The second half was the best performance we've had since I've been in charge of the national team," Ghalenoei said.He added: "But this is football, and if you don't take your chances then you will be punished. If you're looking for someone responsible for this defeat, it is me - not the federation or players. I think today was one of the worst days I've had in my life."Wednesday's win was Qatar's first in seven matches against their opponents ranked 20 in the world.

A ‘focused’ Qatar are feeling ready to deliver their best performance today when they take on three-time champions Iran in the semi-final of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.The defending champions are on a 12-match unbeaten streak in the region’s premier national team tournament that has now reached the final phase.Coach Marquez Lopez, who is barely seven weeks into his new job, has given a clear message to his players: enter the Al Thumama Stadium with the intention of winning what many predict will be a feisty last-four clash.“We always play to win and that will be what we’ll be doing (against Iran),” Lopez said confidently on Tuesday at a pre-match news conference. “There’s no talk about trying to take this match into penalties,” the 59-year-old added. Qatar edged Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals in a heart-stopping penalty shootout in their previous match.Lopez seemed buoyant at the news conference knowing he has his strike force of Akram Afif, captain Hasan al-Haydos and Almoez Ali available for selection for the match tonight.The three players so far have combined to score eight goals in the 24-team tournament.“Of course we enter this match with big motivation, we are one step away from the final. We have a chance to reach a second straight final which is a big driving factor for us,” Lopez said.“The players performed well in the previous matches and are extremely focused on continuing the winning streak,” the Qatar coach said in reference to his side’s wins over Lebanon, China, Tajikistan, Palestine and Uzbekistan on way to reaching the semi-finals.Qatar produced seven consecutive wins at the 2019 edition when they won the AFC Asian Cup title with a 3-1 win over Japan in the final.“We are one step away from reaching the final match of the Asian Cup (again). We are excited about the match and look forward to giving our best. We will give our best,” he added.“We recognise that it’s going to be a very tough match,” Lopez added. “It’s our sixth game in a short period, so that will be physically demanding but we are still hopeful of a good performance.“Iran is a very strong team. We have not underestimated any team we have played in this competition so we will not start doing that against Iran,” he said.“The attack of Iran is very strong and we are aware of this. We have plans for that and we will try to minimise their quality up front. We will be playing in front of our fans so that makes this match special,” the coach said.Coach Ardeshir Ghalehnoy said he told Iran players to forget beating four-time champions Japan in the quarter-finals three days ago.“We know that tomorrow’s match is very important. All that we did until now is to reach the final match,” Ghalehnoy said at a news conference on Tuesday.“I told the players to forget the Japan match, what is important now is to beat Qatar and reach the final. We know they are a good team, the defending champions and have spent a lot to improve the team,” he added.“Sometimes you have bad performances, sometimes you have good performances but we’ve only had good performances so far. Even against Japan, we didn’t concede a lot of chances. We may make changes for the game but the level of the team is almost the same, so the quality of the starting XI will not be affected. Tactics that we make in every match, 70%-80% are related to the strength of our team and the balance related to the opponent,” Ghalehnoy said.The Iranian coach acknowledged that his side is up against a strong Qatar squad.“Qatar reaching this stage means they are high quality. We cannot keep looking at the Japan result and think that will take us through,” Ghalehnoy said on Tuesday. “We have to be more concentrated, show more quality and cover more distance. With all that, I hope that we can reach the final for the first time in a long time,” he added.“You can see from (Mehdi) Taremi’s reaction in the last two games and see how united we are as a team and how much we want to do well in this competition,” he warned.Taremi, who plays for FC Porto, will return today to add muscle to the Iran side after a one-game suspension. Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun and Saman Ghoddos will be the other concerns for the Qatari side.The match kicks off at 6:00pm.Points to rememberImpressive recordIran have won their last six matches against Qatar, including a 1-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 group stage. Iran outscored Qatar 11-1 in those six games. Good runThis will be Iran’s eighth AFC Asian Cup semi-final, the joint-highest with Korea Republic. Semi-final win overdueTeam Melli, however, have not progressed past the semi-final stage in their last six attempts stretching back to 1980, with Japan defeating them at this stage in the 2019 edition. Three-time winnersIran won three consecutive editions between 1968 and 1976, a feat which no other team has managed. A fourth title will draw them level with Japan at the top of the all-time list. Elite listQatar are the ninth team to reach the semi-finals of AFC Asian Cup in two consecutive editions. Always on targetQatar have not failed to score a goal in their eight AFC Asian Cup knockout stage games.

Young goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham on Saturday produced a daring performance against feisty Uzbekistan to single handedly take Qatar into the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.The 25-year-old Al Sadd keeper stopped three penalties before Qatar defender Pedro Miguel converted the game-changing fifth and final penalty for a thrilling 3-2 win at a packed Al Bayt Stadium.Qatar will take on Iran in the semi-final on Wednesday at Al Thumama Stadium. Iran on Saturday stunned four-time champions Japan 2-1 with a strike in injury time at Education City StadiumIn the first semi-final on Tuesday, South Korea take on Jordan at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.It was defending champions Qatar’s 12th successive Asian Cup win following their seven consecutive victories at the 2019 edition they won in the UAE. It was Qatar’s first win over Uzbekistan in three Asian Cup matches.This will be the second time that Qatar have reached the semi-finals of Asia’s premier national team event following their title winning streak in the UAE in 2019.Saturday’s defeat means Uzbekistan have left the tournament for the second time after their heartbreaking loss in similar fashion against Australia five years ago.Coached by Marquez Lopez, Qatar on Saturday dominated the proceedings in the first half as they walked off for the break with a 1-0 lead following an own goal by keeper Utkir Yusupov.The Qatar players - especially Akaram Afif and captain Hasan al-Haydos - worked in slick unison for most part of the first half making inroads into the Uzbek half almost at will.In the 10th minute, the ever alert Afif pounced a long loopy cross that landed inside the Uzbekistan box but the Qatari striker’s powerful left-footed drive was blocked by ’keeper Yusupov.Close to the half-hour mark, al-Haydos picked up a loose ball and headed towards the Uzbekistan box. An unmarked al-Haydos delivered a low cross that deflected off Rustamjon Ashurmatov’s leg and then flew towards keeper Yusupov who lost sight of the ball and accidently flapped it into his own goal.Captain al-Hayods celebrated the goal - thinking he had nicked the third one this tournament - but the referee correctly called it an own goal by keeper Yusupov.Shortly afterwards, Uzbek midfielders Otabek Shukurov managed to turn inside the Qatar box but his shot flew over the crossbar much to the delight of home fans. With the Uzbekistan forward line increasing pressure on the resultant corner kick, Qatar defender Lucas Mendes headed the ball away for another corner.In what turned out to be an incredible block, Qatar’s Mohamed Waad produced a well-timed slide to block a powerful shot from Pakhtakor winger Azizbek Turgunboev shortly afterwards.Five minutes from close of the first half, Afif fired a long range shot from outside the box but Yusupov made amends for the own goal earlier with a brilliant one-handed save to block a header from Mahdi.Soon after the break, Uzbekistan captain Jaloliddin Masharipov curled in a long range shot in the 55th minute but the ball sailed away just centimetres from the Qatari goal post. After a couple of minutes, Shukurov fired another long range shot that also sailed away close to the goalpost to the left of a diving Barsham.A minute before the hour mark, Odiljon Hamrobekov produced a classy left footed drive to score the equaliser. After breaking free of his marker, Hamrobekov slipped into the Qatar box and then fired a shot to the left of ’keeper Barsham.Neither team could manage a goal in the remaining part of the second half. With players feeling exhausted, the two teams looked scrappy in the two halves of the extra time.After the final whistle, the two teams got ready for the heart-stopping penalty shootout. With 59,000 fans at Al Bayt Stadium screaming, Uzbekistan’s Rustam Ashurmatov and Qatar’s 2019 top scorer Almoez Ali failed to score from their spot kicks.Qatar’s Al-Mahdi Ali Mukhtar skied his penalty but young Barsham - brother of track and field superstar Mutaz Barshim - stopped three penalties to make it a memorable night for the home side. Defender Miguel did the rest by converting the fifth and final penalty.Semi-finals line-upSouth Korea vs Jordanon Tuesday, 6pm at Ahmad Bin Ali StadiumQatar vs Iranon Wednesday, 6pm at Al Thumama Stadium

Coach Marquez Lopez on Friday said defending champions Qatar will be looking to play an attacking game against Central Asian giants Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Saturday.Under Marquez, Qatar are on a four-match unbeaten streak that has taken the 2019 champions into the quarter-finals against a side that beat Thailand 2-1 in the Round of 16 clash three days ago.Qatar’s chief striker Akram Afif has scored four goals in as many matches while his captain Hasan al-Haydos has netted two to inspire confidence in coach Lopez going into Saturday’s clash at Al Bayt Stadium. Al Annabi have scored wins against Lebanon, China, Tajikistan and Palestine.“We have talented players and we have fast players, possibly the fastest players in the competition,” Lopez warned at a pre-match news conference on Friday.“The quality of the players and the performance of the team mean we have made it to the quarter-final,” Lopez, who is less than two months into his Qatar job, added.The 59-year-old Spaniard quickly said he expects a physical clash between the two sides.“This is going to be a very physical game,” Lopez said. “I know the players of the Uzbekistan team very well as I previously faced some of their players in the AFC Champions League matches when I was coach of Al Wakrah,” he added.“I am well aware of the quality of these players and their skills. The most important thing is that we will focus on our strengths and try to win the match,” he added.“The Uzbek players have skill, quality and speed, and like I said it will be a physical match. But my players are physically prepared, especially since I rotated them during the group stage in order to give everyone the opportunity to play and compete in the tournament,” he said.“We have reached what we are looking for, we’re in the quarter-finals and if anyone thinks we can’t make it to the final that is up to them,” the Spaniard said.“There’s no negative pressure on the players, they are well motivated. They want to win. There’s going to be positive pressure for us to achieve in this very difficult game,” he said.Uzbekistan coach Srecko Katanec also sounded confident going into the last-eight clash. The Central Asians are looking to progress to the semi-finals for the first time since the 2011 edition also held in Qatar.Thirteen years ago, Uzbekistan beat Qatar in the opening game of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup before being knocked out by Australia in the semi-finals.“My job is to prepare the team as best I can. We are together for two-and-a-half years and if they don’t know how to play now it will be wrong, but I’m confident they know. They know we have to be organised,” Katanec, who is from Slovenia, said on Friday.“All coaches are smarter when we win, but we depend on the players, on their qualities and the game tomorrow is starting from 6:30 for two hours and they have to be in good shape.“We have reached a nice position, we didn’t lose, we have conceded less goals so they have to worry, like we have to be worried.“When we started this Asian Cup I said I know the situation, that we go game by game,” Katanec said. “Tomorrow is another game. We did well, but it was what it was, so we will try to do our best.“We are good. I have a nice group of players. They have to be confident, we reached (the quarter-finals) and tomorrow, it’s the game. So go ahead. We have nothing to lose, give everything and I’ll be satisfied with the team,” the 60-year-old added.

Defending champions Qatar on Monday rallied for a 2-1 win against Palestine after a first-half stutter to reach the quarter-finals at AFC Asian Cup 2023.Playing at a packed Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar conceded a goal in the 37th minute when Oday Dabbagh found the net to put the Palestinians ahead.Qatar captain Hassan al-Haydos produced the equaliser in injury time following a corner kick. Qatar’s mercurial striker Akram Afif converted a penalty in the 49th minute – driving to the right of Palestinian goalkeeper Rami Hamadeh – as the home team took the lead in the feisty contest.It was Qatar’s 11th win on the trot following their seven in the 2019 edition they won in the UAE. For Afif, the Al Sadd stalwart, it was his fourth goal of the tournament scored in front of 65,000 fans at tent-like Al Bayt Stadium.Qatar enjoyed greater ball possession (60-40) while sentimental favourites Palestine fired 11 shots on the Qatari goal, two more than the home side coached by Marquez Lopez from Spain. Palestine landed five shots on target whereas Qatar had three.In the quarter-finals, Al Anabbi will take on the winner from the clash between Uzbekistan and Thailand on Tuesday. Qatar will return to Al Bayt Stadium in the quarter-final. For Palestine, ranked 99 in the world, it was a memorable event in which they scored six goals in four matches with three coming against Hong Kong last week. Prior to last night’s clash, Palestine had only scored just one goal across six AFC Asian Cup matches in 2015 and 2019.“It was a game against Palestine and it was emotional. With all my respect I understand our fans (cheering for Palestine),” Lopez told reporters on Monday. “This is football, you can plan for something and it doesn’t always go to plan. Palestine’s players played very well, they were brave. The most important thing is we qualified (for the next round) and we have to retain our positivity for the future.”Palestine coach Makram Daboub said after the match: “My players gave all that they have despite the difficult circumstances. I cannot ask them to do more than what they’ve done. I’m very proud of my champions. They have big ambition and they’re proud to represent the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people are very passionate. We wanted to make them happy but we’re sorry we couldn’t. We hope to be better in our next games and compensate for today’s loss.”Following a cagey start, Qatar keeper Meshaal – younger sibling of global track and field star Mutaz Barshim – managed a diving stop on a long-range missile from Palestine’s Amid Mahajna in the 19th minute.A few minutes later, Barsham thwarted another Palestinian threat when Abu Warda, ghosting down the left, met Zeid Qunbar’s pass with a deft touch, but the resilient Qatari shot-stopper was equal to the task.Frustrated by Barsham’s brilliant saves for Qatar, Palestine’s Dabbagh decided to take matters into his own hands. In a moment of pure magic, he embarked on a solo run, weaving past two befuddled Qatari defenders. With laser focus, he drilled a shot towards the bottom corner, finding the net with ease. His third AFC Asian Cup goal delighted the Palestinian fans just eight minutes before halftime.It was also the first goal conceded by Qatar in this tournament featuring Asia’s finest 24 teams.In a heart-stopping finale to the first half, Afif and al-Haydos put together a magical move. Afif whipped a low delivery across the box, finding al-Haydos in trademark fashion. The Qatari captain’s first-time strike deflected off Musab al-Battat and nestled into the net, silencing the Palestinian cheers and restoring parity just as the whistle blew.Minutes into the second half, Afif slipped in a low cross to Almoez Ali but Palestine defender Mohamed Saleh produced a rough sliding tackle on the Qatari resulting in a penalty. Afif calmly slotted home as Qatar took the lead 12 minutes after conceding the first goal.Afif nearly put Qatar ahead late in the second half, bending a 20-yard free-kick over the wall and agonizingly grazing the crossbar to the relief of thousands of Palestine fans.Monday’s clash saw fan turnout after 40 matches reach 1,068,587 spectators, a record tally that exceeded the number of ticket holders at the 2004 edition held in China.

Buoyed by a commanding performance in their opening match, defending champions Qatar will be looking to consolidate their chances to reach last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup when they face Tajikistan on Wednesday. Champions in 2019 at the tournament held in the UAE, Qatar beat Lebanon 3-0 in their first match on Friday in front of 82,490 fans at Lusail Stadium. That win was Qatar’s eighth on the trot following their seven impressive wins at Asia’s premier tournament four years ago when Al Annabi beat Japan in the final to become the continental champions. Should Qatar win against Tajikistan, and China-Lebanon tie end in a draw in day’s other match - the hosts will be assured of topping Group A. Qatar coach, Marquez Lopez, on Tuesday said his team will be looking for three more points at Al Bayt Stadium. “We’re going to enter this match in order to achieve a victory,” Lopez said at a pre-match press conference with his young goalkeeper Meshaal Barshim in attendance. “They are a difficult opponent but we have studied them and we know that they have speedy players who can hurt us,” the Spaniard - who was roped in only last month - said. “From the first day I’ve said that we have to take it one match at a time, we want to lead and we want to go to the second round, that objective hasn’t changed. We have to use all the tools we have to score as early as possible but the most important thing is to be prepared and ready for the match,” Lopez said. “Of course we all think about the games to come in the next round but we have to focus first on the next game first. If we win, it’s possible that we win the group then we’ll see who we might get in the next round.” Lopez will be hoping his chief strikers Akram Afif and Almoez Ali on Wednesday exhibit the promising form they used to deflate Lebanon. Afif scored twice while Almoez found the net once in the second half against Lebanon. Though Group A toppers Qatar appear poised for a repeat victory, they’ll remember Tajikistan’s surprise 2-1 win in their 2012 friendly, keeping the underdog Tajiks in the hunt. Lifted by their spirited draw against China on Saturday, Tajikistan plan to carry their offensive fire to the second round against Qatar on Wednesday. Head coach Petar Segrt, impressed by their gritty performance, on Tuesday expressed confidence in another audacious showing from his Central Asian underdogs. “We respect Qatar as the champions and great hosts but for at least 90 minutes tomorrow, we must put that aside,” Segrt said on Tuesday. “We will try to achieve a good result and make a good impression, to try to get one or three points,” the 57-year-old Croatian added. “We cannot go into a game to get one point, we will try our best. More important is how we behave and how we play our football. It’s not the character of the Tajikistan people to play defensive. So we will try to play our football but we must also respect that Qatar are stronger than China and they will also have their supporters behind them.” Tajikistan, the lone tournament newcomers, are riding high on the wave of confidence after snatching a draw against China, proving their debutant status no handicap. “Before we went into the first game, the players were thinking that they are happy to be here but after the performance we showed, they are now starting to think that they have a chance,” Segrt said. “We had dreams two years ago to come to the Asian Cup, now we have a new dream, now we want to have the first goal in the Asian Cup.” Facts & Figures Tajikistan vs Qatar at Al bayt Stadium, 5:30pm Head to head Tajikistan won 2-1 in their most recent men’s international fixture against Qatar (September 2012) and are set to face them at the AFC Asian Cup for the first time. Unlucky debut Tajikistan settled for a 0-0 draw with China in their first game at the Asian Cup despite making 20 shots at goal on the day, the most of any Group A team on Matchday One. Impressive run Qatar have won their last eight consecutive games at the Asian Cup, including a 3-0 win over Lebanon on Matchday 1 of the 2023 tournament; only once in AFC Asian Cup history has any team enjoyed a longer winning streak (Iran – 13 games from 1968 to 1976). Tough tackler Alisher Shukurov (Tajikistan) won possession 11 times throughout the match against China, the most of any player from Group A in the tournament and two more than Lebanon’s Alexander Melki (9). Mercurial Afif Qatar’s Akram Afif has been directly involved in nine goals in his last four games in the Asian Cup (3 goals, 6 assists) including at least two in each of his last three and two goals against Lebanon last Friday at Al Bayt Stadium.

Continental giants Saudi Arabia will launch their AFC Asian Cup campaign with a game against Oman but the Roberto Mancini-coached side is grappling with shock player exclusions resulting in an uneasy dressing room environment. One of the favourites to win the tournament, Saudi Arabia have arrived at Asia’s biggest footfall event under a cloud of uncertainty for the clash at the Khalifa International Stadium today. Mancini, who was roped in as the Saudi coach last year with much fanfare, on Monday sounded perturbed when asked about the late exclusions of three players - goalkeeper Nawaf al-Aqidi, midfielder Salman al-Faraj and full-back Sultan al-Ghannam. “I think you have to ask them (the three players) because all these players didn’t want to come with the national side. They decided, not me,” Mancini said at the pre-match press conference on Monday. “They were in the list. Salman, who was in the training camp, said he doesn’t want to come for a friendly game. I don’t think players can decide when or when not to play. Sultan and Nawaf, I spoke with both and I asked if they were happy to join the list. Sultan told me he was not happy. “Players can’t decide this. I decide. Nawaf told me he will come. After three days, he said he doesn’t want to come. We put them in the list. They were in the training camp.I only want players who want to fight for country. “I don’t understand when a young player refuses to come because he doesn’t know if he will play or not. The national team is not a club, it’s your country. You represent all the people in your country,” Mancini said. Mancini, a seasoned manager with club silverware and an international triumph (Italy’s Euro 2021) under his belt, expressed shock at the unprecedented phenomenon of players turning down national team duties. “You should be happy if you’re a part of this group. This is a very strange situation and it’s the first time I’ve experienced this. But we’ve found other players to play,” the former Manchester City coach thundered. While the Saudi team that shocked Argentina in the 2022 World Cup boasts veteran experience, their Asian Cup squad looks significantly younger. Notably, even Oman’s players possess more international caps, raising questions about whether Saudi Arabia’s youthful side can replicate the magic that once stunned football giants. “We had these two weeks to work with the players. We know all players from Oman play regularly in the league and they’re probably stronger,” Mancini, 59, said. “But we’re happy with the players we have, they want to fight for their country. Oman have good strikers and midfielders, they’re very dangerous in attack. For this reason tomorrow will be a difficult game,” Mancini said.“My opinion is that Oman is a very good team. The first game (of a tournament) is always very difficult. We know we are a good side but this is a very important tournament for us. There are top national teams. We want to do our best job,” the Italian added. Oman forward Harib al-Saadi said on Monday: “I would like to thank Qatar for the hospitality. We are excited to play at the Asian Cup, and the players want to take the responsibility and represent the name of Oman in the best possible way.” He added: “Everyone knows the name of Saudi Arabia and their level in Asian football. In both games we played against them, we put in a good performance both in Oman and in Jeddah. Players change for sure, but Saudi Arabia remain one of the strongest teams in the continent.” Al-Saadi said: “We focus on Saudi Arabia as a team, not individuals. Just like us, it is about the group together, and if we are all united, we can be superior as a team and get the result we want.” Today’s match - the first head-to-head clash between the two sides - kicks off at 8:30pm.

Defending champions Qatar Friday launched their AFC Asian Cup 2023 campaign on a winning note with a crushing 3-0 win over Lebanon at the iconic Lusail Stadium.Striker Akram Afif managed a double (45 and 90+6) while Al Duhail forward Almoez Ali found the net in the 56th minute to give the 2019 champions three points from the Group A clash watched by 82,490 fans.With Friday's second-half strike, Almoez - the MVP from Qatar's victorious 2019 campaign in the UAE - has now 10 goals in AFC Asian Cup history.It was Qatar's seventh win over Lebanon in eight fixtures while it was the eighth successive win for the defending champions following their seven on the trot at the 2019 edition. Four years ago, Qatar also beat Lebanon in their opening game.From the start, Qatar - ranked 58 in the world - exhibited good intent though their finishing lacked bite.In the second minute of the Group A clash, Afif found Abdulaziz Hatem with a cross to the left but the midfielder was slow to react in the first attack on the Lebanon box. A minute later, Qatar captain Hasan Al Haydos deflected a shot to Afif who - despite being in the box - couldn't find space to aim at the goal.In the sixth minute, Qatar seemingly opened the scoring but the goal was disallowed as off-side. Almoez, despite being marked by defender Nour Mansour, charged into the box and slipped the ball past keeper Mostafa Ali Matar - after Hatem sent a through ball - but the move was flagged off-side. A VAR ruling seconds later upheld the linesman's decision.Lebanon, probably playing in front of the biggest crowd in their football history, managed a corner in the 10th minute. Qatar's Lucas Mendedes headed away a loopy corner kick ahead of Lebanon's Walid Adel Shour.Shortly afterwards Almoez jumped high to head a ball in teammate Yousuf Abdurisag's direction near the edge of the Lebanon box. Abdulrisag fired a long-range shot which was off target in the 12th minute. Lebanon defender Hussein Ali Zein managed to get near the Qatar box but his low shot - under pressure from Mendes - lacked power a minute later.At the 20-minute mark, Afif curled in a free-kick but Almahdi Ali's snap-header was cleaned up by keeper Mataar. Moments later, Lebanon's Shour went long-range with his shot but he was found wanting on the angle as the ball dribbled away from the Qatar net. Zein wasted a golden opportunity in the 25th minute when he found time and space to execute a powerful shot but his bullet was saved by keeper Meshal Barsham, brother of track and field star Mutaz.Soon after the half-hour mark, Afif found slick header but the shot hit the Lebanon crossbar following a cross from Abdurisag, Qatar let go another chance soon afterward to find the net when Hatem - on a cross from Afif lurking inside the Lebanon box - saw his shot blocked by a defender Zein.At the 45-minute mark, Afif produced a well-timed shot from inside the Lebanon box to score his team's much-wanted opening goal following a series of attacks that lacked finish. In a moment of defensive amnesia, Lebanon allowed Mohamed Waad's cross to fester in the box.Almoez, alert and predatory, pounced on the confusion, feeding the ball flawlessly to Afif. With goalkeeper Matar rooted to the spot, Afif calmly slotted home, etching his name onto the scoreboard and punishing Lebanon's lapse in concentration at Lusail Stadium where a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina beat France on penalties in the FIFA World Cup final a little over a year ago.Galvanized by the halftime break, Lebanon launched into the second half with a flurry of intent. Bassel Jradi, Lebanon's talisman, unleashed a thunderbolt from just outside the box in the 47th minute only for Qatari defender Pedro Miguel to deflect the effort over the bar. The missed opportunity was a microcosm of Lebanon's frustrations, highlighting their resilience while showcasing Qatar's defensive steel.Qatar doubled their lead in the 56th minute when Almoez headed home after a cross from Waad on the left. Afif, who clearly was a busy striker for Qatar, scored his second of the night with a late goal in injury time.Qatar will look to another impressive show on Jan 17 when they face Tajikistan. Lebanon will take on China PR the same day.

Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic on Thursday said his young side will aim for an upset today against defending champions Qatar when the two sides meet in the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup at Lusail Stadium.Winless in seven internationals against Qatar, the Lebanon coach said his side has arrived in Doha with a deep desire to impress football fans. “We will try to get a positive result. I will tell them to play for three points, nothing else. We have trained well but we need to show our big potential. I hope our young players will show their talent. We will fight for each point to go to the next round. I believe we have the potential (to win),” Radulovic said at a pre-match conference.“I am optimistic that we can play equally well with every side in this group,” the 56-year-old said. Ranked 107 in the FIFA rankings, Lebanon will play against China (Jan 17 and Tajikistan (Jan 22) after today’s clash. “In this group of players, I have a lot of young players along with experienced names. Two recent matches show our system is working. The playing atmosphere is good. There are a few injuries and that’s the only concern we have,” he added.“We very excited to be here because we will participate for the second time in such a big competition like the Asian Cup. We will try to show all our capabilities. I believe in my team. It was a short time for preparation. I know the teams in this group very well. We will try to do our best,” he said.A few days after his resignation as coach of Montenegro, Radulovic was re-appointed coach of Lebanon last month following the departure of Nikola Jurcevic. In a friendly against Saudi Arabia last week, Lebanon looked organised in the 1-0 defeat. Radulovic, who coached Lebanon at the 2019 Asian Cup, on Thursday praised Qatar’s rise in Asia.“I feel the Qatar team - personally speaking - are looking good. They are one of the favourites to win the tournament. We are playing the defending champions. I appreciate their results in recent years. Qatar are one of those sides I admire. I am sure the fans would enjoy the game. We will try to use our experience from the last competition. These days we have been busy trying to rectify our mistakes,” Radulovic said.“There is big motivation for everyone. Every player who trains wants to play a big tournament like this. Like I told you we have a fine blend of young and experienced players. Tomorrow we should be well prepared psychologically. There will be 88,000 fans. I will be trying to calm the players,” he added.“China and Tajikistan and their results have been up also. All the games will be interesting and difficult. There’s no time to make mistakes. But then this is also a big challenge for us to show our potential. This will also help us for the future. Our main target (from this tournament) is to get experience for future matches.“I came back to Lebanon after five years. I have good memories about Lebanese players and people. I believe we can repeat our good results from the past. We have a group of young players who have great energy. Now we are strong as a group,” he added.For captain Hassan Maatouk, the tournament represents an opportunity to create history for Lebanese football - a place in the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Maatouk sees the return of Radulovic as head coach a huge positive and is counting on the Montenegrin’s familiarity with the players to give Lebanon an edge in the tournament.