As 10 Arab teams entered the race for the ongoing Asian Football Cup championship in Qatar, there were high expectations for these teams to advance to the later stages. However, with the exception of Qatar, the defending champion, and Jordan, who both reached the quarter-finals, 8 teams failed to progress beyond the initial and round of 16 stages.
Weak performances, lack of readiness, and errors in crucial matches, combined with the strength of East Asian teams and the development of their counterparts in the central area, led to the exit of Lebanon and Oman from the group stage, and the elimination of Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Syria from the round of 16.
Early Exit for Lebanon and Oman
According to analysts, the Lebanese national team was not adequately prepared to compete in the tournament. Despite their efforts and a goal by Basel Jradi, their inability to defend against Tajikistan led to their early exit. Similarly, Oman missed the opportunity to progress, ultimately resulting in the premature end of their campaign.
UAE and Bahrain… Not Quite As Expected
The UAE started well with a victory over Hong Kong, but their performance declined in the subsequent matches, leading to a draw against Palestine and a defeat by Iran. Nevertheless, they secured a place in the round of 16. As for Bahrain, their loss to Japan in the round of 16 was expected given the substantial technical, physical, and tactical gap between the two teams.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia… The Challenge of Maintaining the Lead
The Saudi and Iraqi national teams were among the leading contenders for the title, but their dreams were shattered with respective losses to South Korea and Jordan in the round of 16. Analysts attribute their exits to the challenge of maintaining their lead, as both teams struggled to hold onto their advantage in the matches.
Palestine and Syria… Mission Accomplished
Despite the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, the Palestinian national team achieved an unprecedented feat by reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated by Qatar. Similarly, the Syrian national team made history by qualifying for the round of 16 and facing Iran in a heated match that ended in penalties, with Iran emerging victorious.
As the journey of 8 Arab teams in the continental championship comes to an end, the hopes of the Arab football community now rest on Qatar and Jordan to carry the mantle forward in the quarter-finals.
