Basrah, Iraq: Qatar squad headed by coach Bruno Miguel Pinheiro on Wednesday reached Basrah, where they will compete with regional rivals at the 25th Gulf Cup.
At Basra International Airport, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation, and his accompanying delegation of QFA officials and backroom staff were greeted by Iraq Football Association President Adnan Darjal, who is also Chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee.
Qatar, three-time winners of the Gulf Cup, are in Group B, also featuring defending champions Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Group A includes hosts Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Qatar beat hosts Saudi Arabia in the 2014 final of the Gulf Cup. It was the third title win for Qatar who had won the title in 1992 and 2004 also.
The 25th edition of the Gulf Cup – the region’s most famous football tournament for national sides – has attracted eight teams, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and hosts Kuwait who form Group A.
Coach Pinheiro announced the 23-man squad set to represent Qatar in the tournament yesterday. The team has since concluded its preparations in Doha before leaving for Basra today.
Qatar squad for Gulf Cup: Meshaal Barsham, Tarek Salman, Mustafa Meshaal, Mohamed Waad, Yousuf Abdurisag, Hashim Ali, Salem al Hajri, Ali Asad (Al Sadd), Ismaeel Mohamed, Shehab El Laithi, Mohamed Emad, Diab Haroun, Assim Madibo (Al Duhail), Naif al Hadhrami, Tamim Mansour Al Muftah (Al Rayyan), Homam al Amin, Amro Suraj (Al Gharafa), Ahmed Fadel, Khaled Muneer, Hazem Ahmed (Al Wakrah), Mahmoud Abunada, Jassim Jaber (Al Arabi).
Source: Qatar Football Association