Latest news with #AhmedAl-Dhafiri
Arab Times
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Dhafiri: Kuwait's performance in Gulf Cup fuels World Cup hopes
BASRA, Iraq March 19: Kuwait's Ahmed Al-Dhafiri emphasized the significance of the Blues' upcoming matches in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Iraq and Oman. "Despite the challenges ahead, the team has shown remarkable progress, especially after reaching the Gulf Cup semi-finals, which has given us a major morale boost," Al-Dhafiri stated. Reflecting on previous performances, he said, "We played two outstanding matches against Jordan—both in Amman and at Jaber International Stadium. Jordan is a strong team, having finished as runner-up in the Asian Cup. To compete at that level and control the game, particularly in the second match, was a technical breakthrough for us. It boosted the players' confidence, and since then, we've seen clear improvement in our performance." Al-Dhafiri also praised head coach Juan Pizzi, highlighting his experience and impact on the team. "He has a distinguished track record and has effectively utilized the players to bring out their best. This has fostered a strong bond between the squad and the coach, leading to positive results. Our performance in the 26th Gulf Cup strengthened the fans' confidence in the team and enhanced the harmony between players and the coaching staff, which will be crucial in the qualifiers." Looking ahead to the Iraq match, he acknowledged the challenge: "Iraq is one of Asia's strongest teams, boasting many talented players. It also has the advantage of playing at home in front of its fans, but we are confident in our ability to secure a positive result." As for the Oman match, he noted, "Oman is one of the top teams in the Gulf region and has a solid squad. However, our immediate focus is on Iraq, where we aim to put in a strong performance."
Arab Times
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
No surprises in the Crown Prince Cup
KUWAIT CITY, March 8: The start of the Crown Prince Cup saw no major surprises, with the "big teams" securing comfortable victories. Kuwait Club defeated Al-Tadamon 5-0, Al-Salmiya triumphed over Burgan 5-1, Kazma beat Al-Yarmouk 3-1, and Khaitan overcame Al-Shabab 4-1 on penalties (0-0 in regular time). The preliminary round also saw the postponement of the matches between Al-Jahra and Al-Jazeera, and Al-Arabi and Al-Sahel, as well as Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Nasr, due to Al-Arabi's participation in the Asian Challenge Cup and Al-Qadisiyah's involvement in the Gulf Champions League. **media[]** In the opening match, Kuwait Club ensured that Al-Tadamon wouldn't repeat its quarter-final elimination from last season, as it delivered a dominant 5-0 win to secure its spot in the quarter-finals, awaiting the winner of the Al-Jahra vs. Al-Jazeera match. Mohammed Daham stole the show, scoring a hat-trick with goals in the 19th, 52nd, and 77th minutes. Ahmed Al-Dhafiri added the fourth in the 80th minute, and Amr Abdel Fattah sealed the victory in the 90th minute. In the second match, Khaitan defeated Al-Sulaibikhat on penalties after a 0-0 draw, setting up a quarter-final clash with Kazma, who had earlier defeated Al-Yarmouk. Khaitan took the lead in the 8th minute with Khaled Shaman's goal, but Al-Yarmouk quickly responded with an equalizer. Mishaal Al-Shammari then added a second goal, and Hussein Ismail's strike in the 62nd minute gave Al-Yarmouk hope. However, Jarrah Naif's late goal in the 90+8th minute sealed the victory for Khaitan. Finally, Al-Salmiya had a tough time before eliminating Burgan. After conceding a penalty goal in the 20th minute, Al-Salmiya equalized with a penalty from Alex Lima in the 62nd minute. The match went to extra time, where Al-Salmiya netted four more goals through Fawaz Ayed, Bader Jamal, Moaz Al-Aseema, and Mohammed Al-Huwaidi to secure their place in the next round.
