Qatar squad arrives in Kuwait for Gulf Cup

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Friday, December 22nd 2017 06:49 AM

KUWAIT CITY: Qatar squad headed by coach Felix Sanchez on Thursday reached Kuwait where they will compete with regional powerhouses at the 23rd Gulf Cup.       Qatar’s charge at the Gulf Cup will be headed by feared striker Hassan Al Haydos who was named as the chief forward in the 23-man squad announced by coach Felix Sanchez.       Al Haydos, who plays for Al Sadd, has been the pillar of the national team in recent times and finds his name before veteran forwards Rorigo Tabata and Sebastian Soria. Tabata and Soria have not been considered recently.       Al Haydos, 27, is likely to be joined by Akram Afif and Mohammed Muntari in the attack at the Dec 22-Jan 5 event to be held at two venues in Kuwait.       Up and coming midfielders Asim Madibo and Ahmed Moein are also part of the squad. Duhail central defender Karim Boudiaf is expected to hold fort at the centre.       Saad Al Sheeb will be the first-choice goalkeeper for Sanchez.   Qatar, the defending champions of the Gulf Cup, are placed in Group B with Yemen, Iraq and Bahrain. Qatar open their campaign against Yemen on December 23 followed by games against Iraq (Dec 26) and Bahrain (Dec 29).       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 23rd edition of the Gulf Cup - the region’s most popular football tournament for national sides - has attracted eight teams including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and hosts Kuwait who form Group A.     Qatar squad for Gulf Cup:   Saeed Al Shaeb Yousuf Hasan Mohamed Al Kubri Pedro Miguel Assim Madibo Akram Afif Hassan Al Haydos Almoez Ali Abdullah Al Harq Bassam Al Rawi Al Mahdi Ali Abdulkarem Salim Ahmed Fatehi Hamad Al Obaidi Mohammed Muntari Ahmed Yasser Ali Faredon Abdulkarem Hasan Musab Kheder Ismaeel Mohammad Karim Boudiaf Othman Al Yahri Ahmed Moein   Coach: Felix Sanchez