Sport THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2021 ProteasProte in a spin over fitness of key players It was a very big blow. You name a team and 20 minutes bbefore the toss, you’re busy scrambling. It was a bubble burst forfo us right before the game. I certainly would have loved to sesee how Shamsi would have bowled on that wicket. South Africa coach Mark Boucher Sport |09 QATAR CUP BASKETBALL FINAL: Al Gharafa (Abdulrahman Saad 21, Nedim Muslic 16) 86-77 Al Shamal (M Berishvili 27, W Arkaji 23) FIFA Club World Cup: Lamouchi hopes for good show against Egyptian giants Qatar’s Al Duhail promise fight in opening CWC clash against Al Ahly FAWAD HUSSAIN Al Duhail players taking part in a training session yesterday ahead of their 2020 FIFA Club World Cup match THE PENINSULA against Egypt's Al Ahly which will take place today. Pic: Twitter/DuhailSC Al Duhail are set to enter a new territory, hoping for success in what is expected to be a bumpy ride for the Red Knights. In their debut game at the FIFA Club World Cup today, the Qatari Al Duhail Al Ahly champions face one of the most Coach: Sabri Lamouchi Coach: Pitso Mosimane (South experienced teams of the tour- (France) Africa) nament – Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Mohammed Al Bakri (Qatar), Mohamed El Shenawy (captain) A prize for victory in today’s Mohammed Musa (Qatar), Ali (Egypt), Ahmed Ramdan second round clash, kicking off at Malolah (Qatar), Medhi Benatia Beckham (Egypt), Yasser Ibrahim 8:30pm at the Education City (Morocco), Bassam Al Rawi (Egypt), Kahraba (Egypt), Hamdy Stadium, is February 8’s semi-final (Qatar), Ahmed Yasser (Qatar), Fathy (Egypt), Marwan Mohsen spot against European champions Ismaeel Mohammad (Qatar), (Egypt), Mohamed Sherif (Egypt), Bayern Munich – arguably the best Luiz Júnior (captain) (Qatar), Ayman Ashraf (Egypt), Badr club of the world, nowadays. Edmilson Junior (Belgium), Benoun (Morocco), Hussein But to achieve that, Al Duhail Karim Boudiaf (Qatar), Mubarak El Shahat (Egypt), Aliou Dieng will have a mountain to club as they Shanan Hamza (Qatar), Abdullah (Mali), Ali Lotfi (Egypt), Amr El confront nine-time African cham- Al Ahrak (Qatar), Khalifa Solia (Egypt), Salah Mohsen pions, who are known as the most Ababacar (Qatar), Sultan Al (Egypt), Mohamed Magdy decorated club of the world with 139 Brake (Qatar), Almoez Ali (Qatar), (Egypt), Saad Samir (Egypt), Ali trophies. Al Duhail have won plenty Ali Afif (Qatar), Salah Zakaria Maâloul (Tunisia), Akram Tawfik of trophies in Qatar but they are still are upbeat of reaching a new mile- and we will not leave the pitch do our best to meet their high expec- (Qatar), Khaled Mohammed (Egypt), Walter Bwalya (Congo), aspiring to win continental titles. stone on their sixth appearance in unless we are totally satisfied with tations,” he added. (Qatar), Assim Madibo (Qatar), Taher Mohamed (Egypt), Junior The Qatari side is taking a lot of the tournament. ourselves. We are keen to please Al Ahly’s captain Mohamed El Ali Karimi (Iran), Michael Olunga Ajayi (Nigeria), Mohamed Hany pride in representing the country in Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane our fans, as they always support Shenawy said fans support will be (Kenya), Mohammed Muntari (Egypt) and Mostafa Shobeir the elite tournament, hoping to leave yesterday said winning the title is us.” the key for his sides opening game (Qatar) and Dudu (Brazil) (Egypt) mark in their first appearance. not an impossible task, saying Mosimane, however, said Al in the tournament. “We have prepared well and the defeating Bayern Munich is an astro- Ahly’s focus is on Al Duhail match, “Our fans’ support and the spirit team is ready for match against nomical challenge: “But anything is which is expected to draw good of Al Ahly will be our keys to strong Al Ahly side,” Al Duhail coach possible - Leicester City has showed crowd support for both the teams. defeating Al Duhail tomorrow. We Al Ahly players will wear grey shirts, black shorts, Sabri Lamouchi told a video con- you that anything is possible,” he “We respect Al Duhail a lot, as are very excited to play again in and black socks in the game while goalkeeper will ference yesterday. said while recalling The Foxes’ they have many good players and front of the fans, and we are all wear an all-yellow kit. “It’s a moment of pride of us as Premier League title triumph in they managed to win QNB Stars determined to win the match and we are representing Qatar in this big 2016. League. Also, they will play at their qualify for the second round,” El Al Duhail’s team will wear an all-red kit, while the tournament. Everyone is excited and “We have great confidence in homeland and among their fans, Shenawy said yesterday. opponent’s goalkeeper will wear an all-purple kit. looking to give good performance ourselves and we aim to reach our besides that, they have many good “We have great dreams and we Five substitutions will be allowed during the game, against tough opponents who have maximum levels in the competition,” foreign players,” he said. are so happy and proud for partic- with a sixth substitution possible during extra time or very good players,” the Frenchman Mosimane said at a pre-match video “The game will not be easy, but ipating in this elite competition. We added. conference yesterday. I have full confidence in my players are very keen to achieve good if any severe injury occurs. “We must avail opportunities to “We have great determination and I promise our fans that we will results in the competition.” get good results in the match,” he added. Al Ahly players taking part in a training Almoez Ali, Qatar’s key striker, session in Doha yesterday. TWITTER/@ALAHLY said Al Duhail are aiming to go far- thest in the tournament. “It is our first Club World Cup and we want to make it memorable with our performance,” Almoez said on the eve of the match. “Our preparations for this tour- nament are good and our goal is to reach the farthest in the tournament. We are ready for the challenge,” he added. Al Duhail game not easy: Al Ahly coach While Al Duhail are looking to go deep in the tournament, Al Ahly, who achieved their best position Al Duhail goalkeepers in action during a practice session. with third spot in the 2006 edition, CONMEBOL champions Palmeiras arrive in Qatar Players of Brazilian FIFA – DOHA at Education City Stadium, between AFC giants SE Palmeiras, Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai winners of the 2020 Brazilian giants SE Palmeiras, winners of FC of the Korea Republic and CONCACAF CONMEBOL Copa the 2020 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, Champions League winners Tigres UANL Libertadores, arriving touched down in Doha yesterday ahead of of Mexico. in Doha yesterday their participation in the FIFA Club World Should Palmeiras win their semi-final, ahead of their Cup. it opens up the exciting prospect of facing participation in the Upon arrival, players and officials FC Bayern Munich in the final at Education FIFA Club World Cup. underwent COVID-19 testing at the airport City on 11 February. Bayern will face either Palmeiras will take before departing for their designated hotel. Al Duhail SC, the reigning Qatari champions, on the winners of Palmeiras, who defeated fellow Brazilian or CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly today's second-round side Santos FC 1-0 in a tightly contested of Egypt in their semi-final at Ahmad Bin game between Ulsan Copa Libertadores final on 30 January at Ali Stadium on February 8. Hyundai FC of the the iconic Maracana Stadium, will enter the On arrival at Hamad International Korea Republic and Club World Cup at the semi-finals stage on Airport, Ferreira said: “We are delighted to CONCACAF Champions February 7 at Education City Stadium, one be in Qatar for the Club World Cup. This is League winners Tigres of two FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venues a very important tournament for all Pal- UANL of Mexico, at the being used during the tournament. meiras fans and we are looking forward to Education City Stadium, Abel Ferreira’s side will take on the testing ourselves against some of the leading on February 7. winners of today's second-round game, also teams in the world.” THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 11 AFC chief Ferretti eyes CWC glory as Tigres get praises Qatar’s set for ‘tough’ clash against Ulsan efforts RIZWAN REHMAT QNA – KUALA LUMPUR THE PENINSULA President of Asian Football Confed- Coach of Mexican giants Tigres eration (AFC) Sheikh Salman bin UANL Ricardo Ferretti Ibrahim Al Khalifa praised yesterday said his team will be Wednesday the State of Qatar’s aiming to win the FIFA Club efforts in hosting the FIFA Club World Cup title in Doha but World Cup for the second year first they must beat ‘tough’ running, following the successful and Korean side Ulsan Hyundai. safe staging of the AFC Champions The two teams lock horns League 2020, held from September today in the opening clash of to December 2020 in Doha. the hugely popular FIFA tour- Tigres UANL players and officials posing for a photograph at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium yesterday. The AFC President added: “The Qatar nament at Ahmad Bin Ali FA and the Supreme Committee for Stadium where the kick-off is Delivery and Legacy have proven set for 5:00pm. filled,” the Tigres coach said. Tigres UANL Ulsan Hyundai passionate about their football. their world-class hosting capabil- Tigres, who arrived in Tigres captain and mid- Coach: Ricardo Ferretti (Brazil) Coach: Hong Myung-bo (S Korea) They are really good.