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Ammon
5 days ago
- Sport
- Ammon
National Football Team qualifies for World Cup
Ammon News - After defeating their Omani opponent 3-0 on Thursday, the Jordanian national football team made history by earning a spot in the 2026 World Cup. His Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II attended the game in Muscat's Qaboos International Stadium. Her Highness Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, His Highness Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, Her Highness Princess Iman bint Abdullah II, Her Highness Princess Salma bint Abdullah II, His Highness Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, and President of the Jordan Football Association and President of the West Asian Football Federation. Following victories over Oman and its sister team, Iraq, in a match against South Korea, the national team qualified for the World Cup. In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Ali Alwan opened the scoring with a penalty kick, giving the team a hat-trick. Then, in the 51st and 63rd minutes, he added the second and third goals. In the ninth and penultimate round of the 2026 World Cup qualifying round, the national team qualified for the tournament. Yazeed Abu Laila, Yazan Al-Arab, Abdullah Naseeb, Ahmed Assaf, Mohammed Abu Al-Nadi, Ibrahim Saada, Amer Abu Jamous, Muhannad Abu Taha, Yazan Naimat, Musa Al-Taamari, and Ali Alwan were among the players who started for the national team against Oman. In the tenth and last round of the World Cup qualifying round, the national team will play their Iraqi counterpart in Amman International Stadium next Tuesday at 9:15 PM.
Observer
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman U23 team crowned WAFF champions
MUSCAT, MARCH 26 The Oman Olympic (U-23) national team was crowned champions of the sixth edition of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U23 Championship after a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Jordan in the final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Tuesday. This marks Oman's first-ever title in the WAFF U23 Championship and a historic achievement for national head coach Badr al Maimani, who took charge of the team just 10 days before the tournament kicked off. The match began at a fast pace, with the Jordanian team dominating the early proceedings through an aggressive attacking strategy and multiple attempts to threaten the Omani goal. In response, the Omani side relied on quick counterattacks. Despite both teams exchanging chances, the first half lacked any real danger for the most part. Oman's most notable chance in the first half came in the 24th minute, when Osama al Mahrouqi broke down the right flank and delivered a cross that bypassed the Jordanian defence but was poorly finished by Luqman al Jadeedi, who shot wide. Jordan maintained pressure, but Oman's well-organised defence, led by goalkeeper Mazin al Harrasi, thwarted all attempts. In the 36th minute, Sultan al Marzuq sent a powerful shot as a warning sign. Minutes later, in the 43rd minute, he opened the scoring for Oman with a superb strike from outside the box, skillfully evading the Jordanian defenders and sending the ball past the keeper into the right corner. The first half ended with Oman leading 1-0. Jordan came out with clear attacking intent in the second half, creating several chances — most notably a header by Ayham al Samarnah that narrowly missed the left post. Omani goalkeeper Mazin al Harrasi continued to shine, stopping a dangerous one-on-one opportunity from Saif Darwish in the 52nd minute. Oman nearly doubled their lead in the 60th minute after a Jordanian goalkeeper error, but defender Jaafar al Samarnah cleared the ball off the line. Jordan finally equalised in the 74th minute through Badr Kalboona, who converted a corner with a well-placed header, levelling the match at 1-1. Tactical Substitutions Following the equaliser, Oman's coach made tactical substitutions, bringing on Abdulaziz al Shaqsi and Abdulalim al Rawahi for Nasser al Saqri and Ali al Balushi. The changes reignited Oman's attacking momentum, culminating in a stunning overhead kick goal by Turki Bait Rabia in the 86th minute, capitalising on confusion in the Jordanian defence following a double bicycle kick delivered by Ahad al Mashaikhi. In stoppage time, specifically the 93rd minute, Ahad al Mashaikhi sealed the victory with a brilliant free-kick goal, confirming Oman's superiority and their historic championship win. Oman U23 player Mohammed Bait Subeea expressed immense joy following the victory, dedicating the win to Omani fans who supported the team throughout the tournament. In a post-match statement, he said: 'We congratulate the Omani public on this achievement. Many may not have expected this level of performance, but as players and technical staff, we remained united from the start. We didn't use the circumstances as an excuse but rather as motivation to fight until the end.' He added, 'The tournament was held on our home soil and in front of our fans. We had determination until the final whistle. The players fulfilled their roles on and off the field, and today we are reaping the rewards of our commitment and sacrifices.' Bait Subeea praised the coaching staff for their confidence in the players despite the short preparation time. The trophy ceremony was overseen by Shaikh Mohsin al Masroori, a member of the WAFF Executive Committee; Qutaiba al Ghailani, a board member of the Oman Football Association; and Mustafa al Hosni, the tournament director. They awarded Oman's players with gold medals and the championship trophy, while Jordan's players received silver medals as runners-up. Individual awards were also presented. Sultan al Marzuq was named best player of the tournament, goalkeeper Mazin al Harrasi won best goalkeeper award and Jordan's Bakr Kalboona claimed the top-scorer award. The referees of the final match were also honoured for their efforts. In the final rankings, Syria claimed third place, followed by Bahrain in fourth, Saudi Arabia in fifth, Kuwait sixth, UAE seventh and Lebanon eighth. In the final round of matches, Syria defeated Bahrain 1-0, Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait 2-0, and the UAE triumphed over Lebanon 3-0. PICS BY Abdulwahid Al Hamadani
Arab Times
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Olympic team edges UAE, eyes 5th place at West Asian U-23 Championship
MUSCAT 23: The Kuwait Olympic team secured a 1-0 victory over the UAE at the Qaboos Complex in Muscat, during the West Asian Under-23 Championship. Abdulrahman Al-Rashidi scored the match's only goal. Next, the Blues are set to face Saudi Arabia tomorrow evening, Tuesday, in a match to determine fifth and sixth place. Kuwait began the tournament with a 2-0 loss to Jordan. In an update, the West Asian Football Federation has revised the tournament format, turning it into a knockout competition. Winners will advance to the next round, while the losers will compete in a "consolation round."
Al Arabiya
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Exclusive Marcos Soares focused on FIFA U20 World Cup after Saudi Arabia's Asian silver
After returning home from China with an AFC U20 Asian Cup silver medal, the first in-person congratulations that Saudi Arabia coach Marcos Soares received was a fitting one. Back in the Kingdom, and straight back to the gym near his Riyadh home, Soares bumped into senior national team coach Herve Renard. The Frenchman, who worked with Soares during his first spell in charge of the Green Falcons, was full of praise for Saudi Arabia's youngsters after they narrowly lost the U20 Asian Cup final to Australia on penalties. 'Herve and I spoke about the tournament and of course he had watched all the games,' Soares told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview. 'He is a great guy and he knows we have some talents but of course it is difficult to promote players at the moment because the [senior] team has the pressure of the World Cup qualifying. For more Saudi sports news, visit our dedicated page. 'We must be patient but these conversations are ongoing of course – about the players who could make the step up to his team in the future. We have a very good relationship and his feeling is like mine about this tournament. 'I am so proud of my team because we have been working so hard to achieve something. I didn't work alone and I have to thank my staff too – they are brilliant.' The dramatic final shootout in the may not have gone Saudi Arabia's way but the runner-up finish was the country's best performance in the competition in seven years. It also meant that the Green Falcons qualified for this September's FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, with each of the U20 Asian Cup semi-finalists awarded a place at the tournament. 'The main target was to qualify for the World Cup and that day was amazing when we beat China in the quarter-final,' Soares explained. 'We played in a full stadium, with all the crowd supporting China throughout the game and a very good opposition with amazing players. But we did it. 'It means everything to reach [the U20 World Cup] because I was working at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as part of the Iranian delegation but now I will be on the field working as the coach. Playing a World Cup in South America with teams like Brazil, Italy, France, Argentina will be very special and I hope we can make it to the knockout stage. 'I will prepare the team very well and then we will try to fight for a place in the second round. That will be amazing. We need to dream but we need to understand that it will not be easy. The level is very high. But mentally I believe we are prepared.' Soares guided Saudi Arabia to victory at the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U19 Championship last summer; since then the Kingdom has had confirmation it will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the Brazilian coach has noticed a shift in expectations. This is because the players who Soares calls on could be the ones who form the backbone of the Green Falcons team nine years from now. 'I believe the talent is there,' Soare said. 'We have many players who have improved a lot over the past year and I hope they can understand if they want to keep the level that they must work a lot. It's very hard to arrive at that level and to maintain it is also very difficult. 'I am sure we're going to have a few players from our team in the senior team in a few years. This is the normal path and I hope they can be strong mentally to understand what is needed to step up and play for Saudi Arabia – especially at a home World Cup. 'I feel that this is my land now and everything that I'm doing here is to help Saudi Arabia. Everyone at the [Saudi Football] Federation is supporting us a lot to achieve something.' Among the many Saudi players who made a positive impact at the U20 Asian Cup was 19-year-old Bassam Hazzazi. The Al Nassr midfielder suffered the heartbreak of missing the crucial spot-kick in the final penalty shootout, but Soares insists it shouldn't detract from his displays in China. 'Football can be a funny game because in my opinion he was our best player in the tournament and then he missed the penalty,' Soares said. 'It is not the first time this has happened – I remember when Roberto Baggio and Franco Baresi missed for Italy [to lose to Brazil] in the 1994 World Cup final. This is football. 'But Bassam is very strong mentally. He's always playing with a smile on his face, even if everybody is stressing around him. Of course he was sad to miss the penalty but all his team-mates talked to him afterwards and tried to make him feel better. 'Although it can seem like it is your fault when you are the one who misses, the reality is that you don't lose a match just by one penalty – there are many factors.' Hazzazi was not the only player to miss a penalty at the tournament China, with defender Saleh Barnawi also failing to score in the semi-final. Despite this, the Al Hilal defender showed admirable spirit to volunteer again to take a spot-kick in the final. Barnawi is another player who has impressed Soares, who worked with him previously in the youth team of Al Hilal, where he was appointed captain by his now national team coach. 'He is the best player we have in terms of ability to read the game,' Soares said of Barnawi. 'He's not so big for a center-back but he is such a smart player and can read the game very fast. His decision making is very good and he is very strong mentally. 'Nothing changed when he missed the penalty and in the final, he was the first time to volunteer. I trust him and as a coach it is great to have players like this who you have worked with before – who you can build the tactics around. They make my job easier.' While Soares could – and would – wax lyrical about all of his players, the Brazilian coach reserved special praise for his goalkeeper Hamed al-Shanqity. The teenage Al Ittihad shot-stopper kept three clean sheets in six matches and was officially named Best Goalkeeper at the U20 Asian Cup by AFC observers. Soares feels al-Shanqity has all the attributes necessary to make it to the very top of the game. 'Hamed is an amazing player – you cannot believe what he does sometimes. And he has still never played a competitive [senior] first-team game in his life – this surprises me. He plays very well with his hands and he is a strong character too. 'He never has any fear and even if he makes a mistake, nothing changes. He is one of my leaders in this team and I have no doubts he could play now in Manchester City or Barcelona or Real Madrid. He's really one of the main reasons that we reached the Asian Cup final.' Soares said the next step is for his Saudi starlets to be given more game time by their Saudi Pro League clubs, or to seek opportunities elsewhere if those chances don't arrive. 'This [more Pro League] minutes would help us a lot. But also I understand the teams have older players and foreign players who perform very well. It's not easy to go and play there. 'But one of our players Saad Haqawi made an amazing assist to Cristiano Ronaldo last month when he was given a chance. It's an amazing environment there at Al Nassr and I hope there will be more opportunities. 'Of course we also understand that the teams need to win and that doesn't always mean they can give time to the young players. Maybe also a few of my players should go abroad to try different experiences. I believe in the next few months such things are going to happen.'
Daily Tribune
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain U23 Squad Announced for 2025 WAFF Championship Campaign
TDT | Manama Bahrain's under-23 football team has named its squad for the upcoming 2025 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U23 Championship, and there's a palpable sense of excitement as these young players prepare to take on the region's best. The tournament is set to take place in Muscat, Oman from March 19-25. Facing a Tough Road Ahead The sixth edition of the WAFF U23 Championship will feature eight teams, including regional heavyweights like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and hosts Oman, alongside Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. With a compact three-match-day format, every game is crucial. Bahrain, drawn into Group B, will kick off against the UAE on March 19. A win would send them to the semi-finals on March 22 to face the winner of the Oman-Saudi Arabia clash, with the final set for March 25. Classification matches will determine every ranking, ensuring a close fight for all spots, from bronze to eighth. The Chosen Twenty Head coach Hicham Dimai from Morocco has overseen local training sessions throughout early March, carefully selecting a 20-player squad from an initial 31-man group. Ali Sayed Abdullah Salah Abdullah Ahmed Ahmed Al-Saghir Mohammed Yousef Abdulrahman Al-Yahya Ahmed Masoud Abdulrahman Ahmed Abdulwahaab Ahmed Saeed Al-Sheikh Abdulrazzaq Ahmed Talal Al-Shuhaimi Ahmed Yasser Mohammed Abdulqader Abdulrahman Al-Nasr Ahmed Turki Ahmed Al-Nahar Abdulrahman Al-Kafti Jassim Khalaf Ahmed Al-Majed Carrying Forward a Proud Legacy Bahrain's under-23 team has a history in this competition, having competed in the inaugural 2015 edition in Qatar, where Iran claimed the title, and more recent tournaments like the 2023 event in Iraq, won by the hosts. Each experience has shaped this squad, fueling their hunger for success. They're also preparing for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in September, a key step toward the tournament in Saudi Arabia and a shot at Olympic qualification. A Stage to Prove Themselves For these young athletes, the championship is a chance to honor Bahrain's footballing spirit. The youngsters are set to make an impact in West Asia, one strong performance at a time.
