Football fans across the length and breadth of the whole Middle East arose with joy to celebrate Qatar’s success in winning the hosting rights of the 22nd edition of the world’s most coveted international football competition, the FIFA World Cup. The fact that it is the first time an Arab country is hosting is not the only reason for Qatar’s joy. However, the hosting rights gave them a huge sigh of relief due to their inability to ever participate in the competition after several trials at the qualifying stages.
Affectionately called the Maroons, the senior male soccer team of Qatar has been denied a place on several occasions as their opponents continue to prove to be tougher irrespective of their form. South Korea and United Arab Emirates ended arguably their highest-ever hopes of making it to the World Cup after the Qataris had begun a magnificent World cup qualifying campaign towards the 1990 World Cup.
Despite their inability to ever book a place at the World Cup until finally winning the hosting rights for this year, Qatar has risen through the ranks to make a name in football among Asian countries. They are now three-time champions of the Arabian Gulf Cup; joint second with Saudi Arabia in terms of most trophies and just behind Kuwait which has 10 trophies.
Having struggled in the Asian Cup in nine appearances, Coach Felix Sanchez Bas, a former coach of the Barcelona Youth team led the Maroons to what is arguably their biggest achievement in 2019, when Japan was on the receiving end of a 3-1 victory to Qatar in the Final of the 17th edition of the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. What makes the Asian Cup glory a special one was the fact that the said edition was the first time the tournament was contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format. It was probably joyous from a Qatari perspective because Qatar would certainly be referred to as the Asian champions throughout their first World Cup appearance.
The Qatari team could leverage on the cohesion and telepathy developed by virtue of the core of the team’s ability to play together for a long time. After the Asian Cup triumph in 2019, eight of their players were named in the team of the tournament. Interestingly, all eight players were still part of Félix Sánchez’s latest squad. Five of those players now play together for Qatar’s arguably most successful team, Al Sadd; captain Hassan Al-Haydos, Abdelkarim Hassan, Akram Afif, Boualem Khoukhi, and goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb. The other players who made the 2019 team of the year include Al Duhail duo Almoez Ali and Bassam Al-Rawi and Al Rayann midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem.
In their first-ever match in the FIFA World Cup, Qatar will lock horns with Ecuador before trading tackles with African champions Senegal and wrap it up in the group stage with a clash against the Netherlands.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Name: Almoez Ali
Age: 26
The Al-Duhail forward is known for his brilliance in front of goal. The goal poacher now has 41 goals for Qatar, just a single more goal to equal the over 20 years standing record of Mansour Muftah. Ali holds the record for most goals scored in an Asian cup competition with nine goals in the 2019 edition in which Qatar emerged champions. In the same tournament, he was named best player and included in the team of the tournament. He also won the Golden boot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021 and was included in the Best XI.
If Qatar world have a statement to make in their first-ever World Cup appearance, Almoez Ali would certainly be a player to watch out for.
Name: Akram Afif
Age: 25
Akram Afif is a winger who has gathered experience from playing in the Spanish La Liga at Villarreal and Sporting Gijon. He now plays for his boyhood club AL Sadd where he has already scored 23 goals in 51 appearances. He has also won with AL Sadd three Qatar Stars League titles. In addition to his goalscoring, is his ability to create for teammates. Afif was the top assist provider in two consecutive seasons; 2018-19, 2019-2020 and currently has 53 assists in 77 appearances in the Stars League.
Name: Saad Al Sheeb
Age: 32
The experienced goalkeeper has troubled a number of attackers with his excellent reflexes.
With 75 appearances for Qatar, he has spent all his 20 year career with Al Sadd with 188 matches to his name. He played a key role in Qatar Asian cup triumph which won him the Golden Glove in 2019. In the said tournament, Al Sheeb only allowed a goal in the final where Qatar emerged 3-1 winners over Japan, thanks to Takumi Minamino’s consolation
Head Coach: Felix Sanchez Bas
Age: 46
The Spaniard began his exploits in 2013 when he handled the national under-19 side and was eventually given the mandate to manage the under-20 and 23 sides before getting the nod to lead the maroons. He’s been with the team for five years and obviously knows the pros and cons of the team as well as how to manage them. It is evident in his ability to keep over eight players together for a long time in the team.
World Cup fixtures
20 November 2022: Qatar v Ecuador Al Khor, Qatar
25 November 2022: Qatar v Senegal Doha, Qatar
29 November 2022: Netherlands v Qatar Al Khor, Qatar
Appearance(s): 1st appearance
Most capped player: Hassan Al-Haydos (165 appearances)
Captain: Hassan Al-Haydos
Top scorer: Mansoor Muftah (42 goals in 81 appearances)