Qatar won the first international tournament held in Iraq in almost two decades, but more importantly conquered the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people as the curtain fell on the Friendship Championship at the Basra International Stadium yesterday.The tournament was hurriedly put together after FIFA lifted a ban on three Iraqi cities from hosting international matches following years of turmoil which had rendered the country an unsafe place for sport.FIFA deemed that the security situation in Basra, Erbil and Karbala had eased over the past couple of years and certified them fit for international matches, while the capital Baghdad and other cities remain under observation.Qatar, who had actively campaigned for the ban to be lifted and also helped organise the three-nation tournament, deservedly claimed the winners’ trophy with a victory and a draw from two matches.Syria finished second with two points, having drawn both their matches, while Iraq ended up on the bottom of the table with just one point – having lost and drawn a match each.Syria needed to beat Iraq by at least a 2-0 margin yesterday to steal Qatar’s spotlight but could only manage a 1-1 draw in front of almost 35,000 spectators.The Qatar team, who had completed their engagements three days ago and had returned home, flew back to Basra to take part in the closing ceremony and collect the winners’ trophy which they hoped they would win.Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani congratulated the team and also praised hosts Iraq for ensuring the tournament went off smoothly.“First of all I would like to express my happiness at the success of the tournament. On behalf of Qatar I congratulate our Iraqi brothers for putting up such a great show,” said Sheikh Hamad.He added that the victory was a great achievement for Qatar despite it being a friendly tournament.“Any victory is good for the morale of the team. It helps them gain confidence and prepare for their future engagements.“The warm welcome and treatment we received in Iraq is a testimony to the brotherly relations our countries have. Everyone in Iraq supported us whole-heartedly.”Qatar coach Felix Sanchez, for whom it was the first international title with the senior team since he took over the reins, was also ecstatic. Earlier, he had guided Qatar to victory in the under-19 Asian Cup in Myanmar in 2014.“I am sure the victory augurs well for us and will help us in our preparations for the Asian Cup in the UAE early next year,” the Spaniard said. Sanchez, who is also in charge of Qatar’s under-23 team, had selected a host of young players for tournament in Basra, a move he said has paid off well.“We came to Basra to gain experience and we achieved that. To play in front of such huge crowds was an experience they players will cherish for long.”He noted, however, that it was only the beginning of a long journey.“There’s a long road ahead of us and we have to keep working hard. By the team we host the World Cup in 2022 we should be able to put together a competitive team. It’s not an easy task but it’s also not an impossible task.”Qatar captain Hassan al-Haydous said the victory was only the first step on the way to the 2022 World Cup.“It is undoubtedly a great experience but there is a lot of work to be done. We have to be strong and gain all the vital experience we can,” he said.Bassam al-Rawi, who was declared the best player of the tournament, said the tournament was a great experience for him.“I thank the Iraqi people for their support. I want to share my joy of winning the title with them. The Iraqi people showed great spirit and sportsmanship by supporting Qatar. This victory will continue to motivate us.”Experienced midfielder Abdulkarim Hassan said the victory would certainly help the team in the long run.“We played two strong teams in Iraq and Syria. It would certainly help us in our future engagements, especially the Asian Cup next year.”