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Home , Abdelkarim Hassan, Al Sadd SC, Amine Lecomte, Assim Madibo, Baghdad Bounedjah, Edmilson Junior

THURSday, MAY 16, 2019

STAGE SET FOR AMIR CUP 2019 FINAL AT AL WAKRAH STADIUM

It will be the first football match at the new 2022 FIFA World Cup Stadium; Al Sadd coach hopes new stadium brings luck Al Sadd hold egde but Duhail determined too Ayeni Olusegun

The 40-000 capacity Al Wakrah Stadium will come to life as Al Sadd and defending champions Al Du- hail slug it out in the Amir Cup final I am very pleased to be on Thursday. part of the opening of The first of the 2022 FIFA Wolrd Cup stadiums to be built from Al Wakrah World Cup scratch will be inaugurated by HH Stadium and to play in the Amir Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad this important tournament al Thani before kickoff at 10:30pm. It is only fitting for the most prestig- for the first time, but the ious domestic competition to have most important thing for first taste of the new stadium. On the pitch, however, it prom- me is my team, winning ises to be a tough battle against two will mean a lot. teams who are evenly matched both in attack and defence. This will be Al Duhail coach Rui Faria. the second Amir Cup final between Al Duhail and Al Sadd with both teams splitting the spoils. This season, Al Sadd enjoyed a Al Duhail coach Rui Faria speaks to the media at Al Bidda Tower on Wednesday. better head-to-head record over the Red Knights on their way to winning and a big team like Al Duhail wouldn’t est the Amir Cup gets from the me- was an assistant before, but now it’s the QNB Stars League, cruising to a want to lose. They are champions but dia and citizens of Qatar. This final my first final as a coach, and also at 3-1 win in the first leg and forcing a we want to win the Cup. will be one of the biggest in history the stadium which will host matches 2-2 draw in March. “In 2017 we beat them at the especially being played at a World of the 2022 World Cup. Surely this Al Sadd’s last win came at the Khalifa Stadium and now it’s Cup stadium,” Ferreira told the me- will increase the importance of the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Wakrah. Maybe the World Cup dia on Wednesday. game,” he added. 2017 and coach stadiums are good for us. The final will also mark another The defending champions will hopes Al Wakrah brings them more “It’s special for me because it’s milestone as both coaches are from likely be without some injured play- luck, especially this being his last the last game I’ll lead this club,” Portugal. Ferreira however, was ers and there’s doubt on Youssef El game in charge of the Wolves. he said. quick to downplay the relevance of Arabi’s participation. The Moroccan Officials display match jerseys – traditional white for Al Sadd and red for “There are no clear favourites, “We also know how much inter- any comparison with Rui Faria. recently returned to training after Al Duhail – following a technical committee meeting on Wednesday. “It’s the players and not the missing the semi-final. Mohammed coaches who play. I would have Muntari and led the at- Al Sadd SC loved to play but my age is against tack against Al Sailiya and the duo Al Duhail SC (Possible line-up) me,” the 72-year-old said with a are likely to start with Edmilson (Possible line-up) laugh. “The most important parts Junior on the wing. Goalkeeper of the game are the players, we can “We have injuries in the team, Goalkeeper Defender Pedro Miguel only supervise them as coaches.” but this will not reduce the num- Defender Defender Meanwhile, Al Duhail head ber of players for us on the pitch. Defender coach Rui Faria will take charge of We have some players who will not Defender his first final as coach after 17 years participate, but there are a number Defender Bassam al Rawi Defender as an assistant to Jose Mourinho. of others who will find their place in Defender Sultan al Brake Midfielder Gabi “I am very pleased to be part of the starting line up. Forward Youssef El-Arabi the opening of Al Wakrah World Midfielder Jung Woo-young “We are focused on the avail- Forward Almoez Ali Cup Stadium and to play in this able players and when we play with Midfielder important tournament for the first this mentality, it makes it easier for Midfielder Shoya Nakajima Midfielder Ali Asad time, but the most important thing us to play at a maximum level and Midfielder Forward for me is my team, winning will everyone is motivated to this game Midfielder mean a lot to the team,” said Faria. and looking to achieve victory,” the Forward “I am a coach and the victory will Portuguese added. Midfielder be added to my personal account. I Cracker on the cards. Be there!

Al Duhail, led by Yousef El Arabi (No. 9) and Mohamed Musa (No. 2), warm up for a practice session on Wednesday. Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad al Sheeb trains ahead of the Amir Cup final on Wednesday.