Sport MONDAY 26 APRIL 2021 ACL:AC Al Duhail coach Lamouchi praises players'pla efforts after Esteghlal draw ItIt mightmigh not have been like the previous one in terms of chances and goals butbut it wasw a big and exciting match. We controlled the match very well and after wew took the lead, I thought that we were going to get the three points. Al Duhail coach Sabri Lamouchi Sport |19 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: GROUP STAGE Al Rayyan vs FC Goa (8:00pm), Al Sadd vs Foolad (9.00pm), Al Wahda vs Persepolis Draw ceremony to take place at Katara Opera House tomorrow Regional legends look forward Firstly, the Arab Cup will provide the Qatar 2022 organisers with an important final test of stadiums and all the related infrastructure that to first FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar will play a key role in hosting a successful World Cup: THE PENINSULA – DOHA Adel Khamis Egyptian legend Wael Gomaa Qatar will host the FIFA Arab We will have current and Cup later this year, with the draw for the tournament taking former continental champions place at Katara Opera House mixing it up with up-and- tomorrow at 9:00pm. coming teams – it will be an Twenty-three national exciting tournament and one teams will compete for the that shows teams from the trophy, with matches set to be played at six FIFA World Cup Arab region in the best Qatar 2022 venues. The tour- possible light: Former Qatari nament is regarded as a final star Khalid Salman rehearsal for the first World Cup in the Middle East and The Arab Cup will provide yet Arab world, which will take place from 21 November to 18 another important experience December 2022. before the World Cup and Ahead of the draw, comes as part of a qatar2022.qa caught up with a comprehensive plan put in number of Qatar Legacy place by the Qatar Football Ambassadors to discuss the tournament and its significance Association to prepare our Wael Gomaa Mubarak Mustafa ahead of the World Cup. team for the big stage: Qatari Wael Gomaa, regarded as legend Khalfan Ibrahim one of Africa’s best defenders do at this scale in the recent legend, the Arab Cup will be against Saudi Arabia, Iraq, of all time, said: “Firstly, the past.” the culmination of an Korea Republic and Japan. Arab Cup will provide the Qatar Khalid Salman, who important year for the next Adel Khamis, the first 2022 organisers with an famously scored a hat-trick for World Cup hosts. Qatari player to play abroad “I’m certain that Arab important final test of stadiums Qatar against Brazil at the 1981 “The Qatar national team when he was signed by a teams will have their say at the and all the related infra- FIFA World Youth Champi- is in the midst of what will be Kuwaiti club in the late World Cup. In the past, one structure that will play a key onship, believes the Arab Cup a very formative few months Nineties, believes entering the Khalid Salman could see the anxiety that Arab role in hosting a successful will provide some highly antic- in its preparations. Playing in tournament as continental teams felt when facing football World Cup. ipated clashes. the European qualifiers, along champions will give the players giants like Argentina and “Secondly, Arab teams from “We will have current and with their debut in the Gold a boost. it out of the group stage at Brazil. More recently, this has Africa can use the tournament former continental champions Cup, will provide key experi- “Although many of the par- Mexico 86. Since then, only changed. Teams from the as a welcome opportunity to mixing it up with up-and- ences for their growth as a ticipating nations in the Arab Saudi Arabia and Algeria have region are now playing with test their squads for the African coming teams – it will be an squad,” said Khalfan. Cup will boast players from the made it to the second round, in much more confidence. This is Cup of Nations set to take place exciting tournament and one “The Arab Cup will provide world’s best clubs, and will 1994 and 2014 respectively. as a result of many Arab in early 2022, whereas those that shows teams from the yet another important expe- come into the tournament Mubarak Mustafa, however, players plying their craft in top Asian countries which end up Arab region in the best possible rience before the World Cup wanting to make a statement sees that the quality of Arab European leagues,” said qualifying for the World Cup light,” said Salman. and comes as part of a com- prior to the World Cup, I am teams has been gradually Mustafa. can use the tournament to “And to play the tour- prehensive plan put in place by certain that the Qatari team improving in recent years, “The Arab Cup, therefore prepare themselves for the big nament at World Cup stadiums the Qatar Football Association will prove to be a difficult pointing to the fact that four will be a celebration of this stage,” Gomaa added. while benefiting from World to prepare our team for the big opponent,” said Khamis. teams from the region qualified new, exciting style of play, and “Thirdly, there are the Cup infrastructure, including stage.” Despite the popularity of for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will give the world an idea of social implications of the Arab the transport network, training Qatar will enter the tour- the game in the Arab region, in Russia. In turn, the former what teams from the region are Cup, in that the tournament sites and top-class accommo- nament as the champions of the 23 participating countries captain of the Qatar national capable of achieving on the will unite fans and teams from dation, will make it even more Asia after lifting the continental have largely failed to qualify team is looking forward to the world stage,” he added. across the Arab region, some- special.” title in 2019 following an past the second round at the Arab Cup as a platform to The draw will be streamed thing that no other football For Khalfan Ibrahim, unbeaten run to the trophy, FIFA World Cup, with Morocco showcase some of the region’s live on @roadto2022 and @ competition has been able to another Qatari football which included victories being the first country to make talent to the rest of the world. roadto2022en. ACL: Al Rayyan seek Al Sadd take on Foolad with maiden win in Goa eye on top spot in Group D AFC/THE PENINSULA – GOA AFC/THE PENINSULA – RIYADH Qatar's Al Rayyan and hosts FC Goa both will seek their Qatari champions Al Sadd will look first win in the 2021 AFC to settle down for nothing other than Champions League when a victory when they take on Foolad they square off in a Group Khouzestan FC in a vital Matchday E encounter at the Pandit Five clash today in Riyadh. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium A loss is not an option for both today. teams today as they race to win top Al Rayyan who are spot in Group D of the 2021 AFC falling short in their bid to Champions League, but the Qatari advance to the Round of 16 giants will do their best to continue at the 10th time of trying, their winning run. began their 2021 AFC The Xavi Hernandez-led Wolves Champions League cam- Al Rayyan players clinched back-to-back wins against paign with a goalless draw take part in a Jordan’s Al Wehdat to jump up to against the Goan side training session second place in Group D with seven before going down 3-1 yesterday. points, one adrift of leaders Al Nassr against Iran’s Persepolis. of Saudi Arabia. The Laurent Blanc-coached Iran’s Foolad are third on five points “It will be another tough game have to play with spirit, ambition and men then lost back-to-back to UAE’s Al have not performed to expectations, we and need to win their final two matches again with Foolad, because we’ve passion, especially against Iranian Wahda (3-2, 1-0) to suffer early will strive to get the result. It will be a to stand a chance of advancing. Al Sadd already faced them,” the Barca legend teams. We need to keep focused with elimination. difficult game against FC Goa because have done well to remain in contention said yesterday. a good mentality to get the three Blanc’s side sits bottom of the they are very organised. We have two after a slow start which saw them draw “We suffered in the first match of points tomorrow.” standings but the Frenchman is adamant suspensions and some injuries and I with Foolad and suffer a humbling 3-1 the competition. They’re a good team, Foolad's coach Jesus Javier Noble that their position doesn’t do justice to believe Goa have the same problem in defeat to Al Nassr. well organised and aggressive in said: “Tomorrow’s match is very their quality and with the likes of Yacine terms of injuries. We need new players, The 15-time Qatar Stars League defence. They know how to take important, and it will be decisive for Brahimi, Yohan Boli and Shojae Khalil- young players to fill in the positions but champions defeated Al Wehdat 3-1 advantage of set-pieces, so it will be both teams, and will be like the final zadeh in his squad, he will expect three I hope they will bring a huge morale and 2-0 to pull themselves back into difficult.