Qatar’s 3-2 win over South Korea on Tuesday night was a massive result for many reasons. For one thing, it was a big step up from what had been a series of dismal performances throughout the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. Even though there was a feeling of too-little-too-late, the result kept alive Qatar’s faint hopes of finishing in the third place playoff spot.

However, none of that seemed to matter for the team or the fans. The match was an emotionally charged affair for a completely different reason. The ongoing crisis in the Gulf, between Qatar and its neighbours, meant that the match would always be played under its shadow. One week on since the crisis broke, there was no bigger issue on people’s minds. This was why the players had worn t-shirts with the Emir’s face on it during pre-match warmup. This was also why Afif and Al-Haydos celebrated their goals with salutes. It was a show of loyalty and love for the nation at a time when the nation seemed to need it the most.

And then, all of a sudden, came the news that Qatar’s coach Jorge Fossati had resigned.

At the post-match press conference, the Uruguayan coach expressed his decision to quit, leading to reactions of shock and surprise from all quarters.

What the hell? https://t.co/oIupj5xoZS

— SandalsForGoalposts (@Sandal4Goalpost) June 13, 2017

The reaction from our friends at SandalsForGoalposts was not very different from that of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani. In an official statement put out on Twitter, he said that he was “taken by surprise by Fossati’s decision” and that Qatar U23 coach Felix Sanchez would succeed him if the QFA failed to convince Fossati to stay on.

That brought up the question – was this really a surprise? In the past, the resignation (or more often than not, sacking!) of the national team manager would be followed a period of uncertainty before the QFA finally named the successor. In this case, however, the name of the successor was ready within hours.

What is even more interesting is that Fossati’s resignation had been mooted in the local media weeks before the match against South Korea. If those reports were true, then Fossati had already informed QFA of his decision well in advance, giving them time to decide on his replacement. The names of Sanchez, former Qatar boss Djamel Belmadi and also Al-Sadd’s 70-year old manager Jesualdo Ferreira had done the rounds.

Back when those reports first appeared, it was relatively less surprising because very few people actually expected Qatar to win against South Korea. The Maroon campaign had been written off long before that, after the 0-1 home defeat against Iran in March, to be particular. After that match, a video of a young Qatari fan ranting to a BeIN Sports camera against the naturalised players on the team and their apparent “lack of spirit” went viral on the internet. This is a crucial point to be noted – but more on that later.

“I had big expectations for today’s result, really I am very sad,” Fossati had remarked after that game. He should have expected the backlash from fans and the media. If he had resigned then and there, people would have accepted it without thinking twice. After all, Alex Fergusons are rare in the Middle East. A coach’s job is not known for its job security or longevity. Why would this be any different?

Fossati himself had, in fact, threatened to resign less than two months after he taken up the job. After a particularly dispiriting show in a 0-0 draw in China, criticism had rained down on the naturalised players.

Talk on the street back then had been that QFA had lost all hope in its naturalised players getting them to the 2018 World Cup. And so, the authorities were planning on putting an end to it and focusing instead on the development of a homegrown team for the 2022 edition at home.

When talk of this reached Fossati, he rejected the idea flat out.

In an interview with Doha Stadium Plus, he said: “I heard about a plan to exclude naturalised players and bring in more young Qatari players into the national team. It (discouraging naturalisation) is one point I don’t agree at this stage. I believe the rules in football are made by FIFA. In my opinion, all players who’re naturalised after fulfilling the world governing body’s norms should be treated on par with true Qatari players.”

Fossati was outspoken in his support for naturalisation in Qatar. “France became the world champions with many naturalised players. Germany too. They’re big countries. You just look at Qatar’s population. If Spain can naturalise Diego Costa, Qatar can have 30 of them,” he told Doha Stadium Plus.

This was expected from Fossati. He has always been a supporter of naturalisation. Iraqi fans will remember Fossati’s previous stint as Qatar coach in 2008 when he presided over the inclusion of multiple new naturalised players in the Qatar national team. These included Brazilian-born players Emerson (forever known as Emerson Sheik in his home country!) and Fabio Cesar who helped Qatar to a 2-0 defeat over Iraq. The match turned into a controversy when it was proven that Emerson was ineligible. Iraq appealed but even though Emerson was suspended, Qatar were given a reprieve.

This time around, Fossati pointed to the eligibility and desire of all his players to appear for Qatar, as per FIFA rules.

“There isn’t a single player in our team who’s playing out of obligation. They’re there because they want to be there. And all of them are well within FIFA rules. This is the only thing we need to think of,”  he added.

And then, he slipped in a comment. A bombshell.

“If the federation wants to go another way, I’ll respect its decision 100 per cent. And it’ll be better for the Qatar national team to have another coach who supports that view.”

This writer had imagined the possibilities of Fossati leaving his post back then in protest at the QFA’s reported plans. However, it turned out that QFA agreed with the Uruguayan’s assertion that Qatar could still qualify for Russia and that naturalised players were key to it.

But that was in November 2016. Then came March 2017 and the two devastating 0-1 defeats to Iran and Uzbekistan, in the space of five days. Qualification was a bygone dream.

This is where the young Qatari’s rant against naturalisation becomes relevant. And this is where the jigsaw puzzle seems to fall into place. The question on many lips was this: Why should the team persist with these naturalised players even now, after all hope is lost? Isn’t it better to play with the U23 team from now on? Yours truly agreed.

I've said this before & I repeat it again, pls @QFA, forget about 2018! Play with the U23 team for the remaining matches.

— Ahmed Hashim (@AhmedH_93) March 24, 2017

What then about Fossati? I must admit I felt sad for him. Here was a man who had done so much for Qatari football, set to leave the national team job (for the second time too) in disappointment.

As far as Fossati himself was concerned, he had decided enough was enough. None of his plans had worked out. The team kept losing focus and making the same mistakes over and over again. Luck too, didn’t seem to be on his side. He watched his men hit the crossbar and fail to score sitters while also conceding soft goals. The refereeing, Fossati claimed, had also contributed in killing off Qatar’s chances of qualification. And so, reports started to emerge that Fossati would resign after the match against South Korea. Cue rumours of his replacements.

However, without any official confirmation, the rumours remained rumours.

When Tuesday, the 13th of June finally came around, the situation had changed in Qatar. Everything else took a backseat as Saudi Arabia and the UAE led a group of Arab nations in cutting all ties with Qatar a week prior to that. Footballing rumours like who would take up the Qatar job were pushed aside as everyone had to deal with rumours of a different kind. Was BeIN Sports taken off air in Saudi Arabia and the UAE? Were Barcelona shirts with the Qatar Airways name banned? Would Qatar lose the rights to host the 2022 World Cup?

Qatar finally looked like a ‘national team’ on Tuesday night, bolstered by what seemed to be their reaction to the blockade on the country

For the players, however, the match was a way of expressing their emotions loud and clear. After a long series of games fraught with a lack of team spirit and desire to win, evoking despair in its fans, Qatar suddenly took on a new robe against South Korea. It seemed that it took a political crisis to finally kick the team into action. Even with an assortment of nationalities in its squad, Qatar finally looked like a team. Fossati (according to local newspaper Estad Al Doha) said:

“The players have shown their commitment to and love for the Qatari team despite their different nationalities.”

In that context, voices in the media and among fans on Twitter have pointed to the blockade on Qatar proving to be a unifier and motivating factor – a blessing in disguise. One tweep even said: “If only the blockade had started at the beginning (of the qualifying campaign), Qatar would have reached Russia!”

And then, amidst all the delight and celebration, Fossati quietly settled into his seat at the post-match presser and reminded everyone of something they had all forgotten – his resignation.

Why he proceeded with his promise, we might never know. He never made his reasons clear, apart from stating unequivocally that his resignation had nothing to do with the political crisis and that everyone knew of his plans weeks before it. He seems to have made up his mind long ago; even this new ray of hope of qualification won’t change it.

Why are we all surprised then? It undoubtedly comes back to the performance and the emotions we saw on Tuesday night. For a moment, a Qatari fan may have looked away from the mathematical permutations and combinations and thought: “Maybe we can do this.” ‘Doing this’ requires them to win both their remaining games against Syria (away) and China (home) while they would need Uzbekistan to lose their matches against South Korea and Iran. Even then, what is at stake is a playoff spot, four matches away from actual qualification to the World Cup.

Yet, everyone was allowed to dream on this particular night. That dream curiously also had Fossati on board, at least to some Qataris and many other neutral non-Qataris, who thought this was the moment to consolidate the ranks and give the Uruguyan free rein for one last push. Fossati’s clear desire to resign now means that QFA need to quickly move on with their contingency plan to replace him with Sanchez.

So who is Felix Sanchez Bas? The Spaniard was a youth team coach at Barcelona before moving to Qatar’s Aspire Academy, where he oversaw the rise of a golden generation of homegrown talents, who won the AFC U19 Championship, finally made a Qatari reappearance at the FIFA U20 World Cup and finished fourth at the AFC U23 Championship. Stepping up at each youth level as coach of these young stars, Sanchez now looks set to take over the senior national team.

The question now if Sanchez takes over is: what will be his strategy? (A) Will he bring over his golden generation? Or (B) will he continue with naturalization?

Before the 13th of June, the overwhelming majority would have answered ‘A’. His wards, all of who were homegrown, have, in the eyes of the public, demonstrated “national spirit” with their exploits. They would have been welcome to replace their seniors without as much as a second thought.

But now? After downing the Koreans, I’m sure that opinions won’t be as straightforward and easy to state. There will be those who will support retaining the naturalised players, just as Fossati had envisaged.

That takes us to the title of this article: how does it all come together? I feel that the Gulf crisis has given the Qatar national team an unexpected fillip, turning the situation around for Fossati and the QFA and raising important questions about the future course of action for the naturalisation strategy. Because the political talk refuses to go away, even Fossati’s decision to resign was linked to it by some. Although he rejected those insinuations, he has to admit that it was the crisis that changed things for Qatar, and possibly, for his job prospects too. As for naturalisation, the ongoing onslaught on Qatar from Saudi media also featured disparaging reports on the QFA’s naturalisation strategy. That is nothing new; it has always been a source of embarrassment. In fact, it was at the height of the embarrassment back in November that QFA reportedly considered scrapping the whole strategy, prompting the aforementioned furious response from Fossati.

Yet, from all the time I have spent following football in Qatar, there is one thing I have noticed about the popular reactions to naturalisation. Locals only get irked when the naturalised players do not perform as well as expected or show a “lack of spirit”. At all other times, most voices have generally found no reason to reject “good” naturalised players. The distinction between the “good” and the “uninspiring” may be very vague but this is how things stand. If this same team had been overachieving, I don’t think that ranting Qatari kid would have become an internet sensation.

Then again, all those questions are only worth discussing IF Fossati does leave. Ahdaaf‘s man on the ground in Qatar, Jilbin Sam George, believes that he can still be tempted into staying, at least until the 2019 Asian Cup. BeIN Sports reported that Fossati made a cryptic comment saying he would be willing to help the national team in any capacity if asked.

“I love Qatar, I want the best for Qatar.”

Estad Al Doha  soon reported that Fossati was interested in staying on in Qatar, taking on the managerial job at newly-promoted QSL side Qatar SC while continuing as the national team coach.

Confusing much? To be honest, you can never know anything for sure here. This is Qatar. This is football. Expect the unexpected. One thing is more or less certain. If the QFA does coax Fossati into staying, then the infusion of the golden generation will have to wait. Naturalisation will continue to reign supreme.

Reminder:

Qatar travel to Tehran to face Iran, while Uzbekistan meet the relatively unknown prospect of Syria. Iraq and the UAE face tough nations in Australia and Japan respectively, meanwhile Saudi Arabia have the easiest opponent in Thailand. 

QATAR: We are ready [for Iran]

A tough match for Qatar, but the players are more than confident in getting the 3 points in Tehran. Expectations are relatively high after a near-perfect second round qualification but it’s very premature to claim that a win against Iran between their fans will be an easy feat. Qatar will have to be at their absolute best to gain a point, but Qatar’s level against the bigger sides has been a bit of a wildcard since the 2015 Asian Cup.

CARLOS QUEIROZ, IRAN: Qatar’s efforts should be appreciated

Queiroz has said “Qatar have brought the World Cup to Asia so their efforts should be appreciated. Not only do they deserve our respect, but their investments and works off the pitch to bring WC to Asia should be appreciated”.

Meanwhile Andranik Teymourian in his press conference asked the fans to come to the game tomorrow, especially because the game is free for public to attend. From the outset this already seems like Iran have taken a much more respectful approach against Qatar, where everyone are looking for 3 simple points. Surely this game will be good, but tough for both sides.

AHMED KHALIL, UAE: We came to win

The UAE’s “win” against Japan at the Asian Cup in 2015 will go down as one of the greatest nights in Emirati football history. Holding out until penalties was no mean feat but the team are expected to do so again. Japan are no longer under now-UAE Pro League’s Al-Wahda manager Javier Aguirre, but the man behind Algeria’s successful run at the 2014 World Cup: Vahid Halilhodzic. Especially after the UAE’s up and down performance levels with Mahdi Ali recently, one will wonder if the UAE can engineer a challenge on Japan soil or crumble under the pressure.

SYRIA: Yes, we can

It has been quite a shock to see Syria here, in this round. They are aiming for a play-off spot and the fans from all around the world are with them. They’ve gone out with the English saying of “Yes, we can”. Still without arguably the best striker in the Middle East Omar Al-Soma, the Syrians have now forgotten about the player and are firm believers in the team they have and will support them “Qalban wa qaliban”, as the saying goes in Arabic.

YEHIA AL-SHEHRI, SAUDI ARABIA: Our aim is 3 points

Saudi Arabia have the easiest opposition out of the Middle Eastern teams, it goes without saying. Their record against Thailand is also pretty good over the years and at home they are expected to take 3 points if they want to repeat the feats of 1994, 2002 and 2006 in qualifying for the World Cup. They’ve got the best opposition they could ask for and any points dropped will result in alarm bells around Saudi football. 

IRAQ: “MEDIA SILENCE” FOR PLAYERS

Ahead of their match against Australia, Radhi Shnaishel has forbidden the players to speak to the media. This is in a bid to keep the players focused on the technical and tactical aspects for the match rather than spend time fighting over unnecessary matters. Iraq qualified for this round after initially struggling but will want to do their usual thing in surprising the rest of the nations left in the qualifying rounds. Can Shnaishel engineer a shock start to their campaign as he did with their fascinating Asian Cup run in 2015?

GCC nations tend to pay truckloads of money to keep their players away from scouts scouring the Middle East, in their bid to discover yet another reluctant footballing gem. Yasser Al-Qahtani, Bader Al-Mutawa and now Omar Abdulrahman are all players famed in the Arab World but have never taken the next step or will never make that defining decision. Akram Afif is of a different mould, brought up in a generation of change for the miniature Gulf nation: Qatar.

Born to a Tanzanian father and a Yemeni mother, Afif was one of the stars of the Aspire Academy opened in 2004 to help develop young Qatari athletes. Amongst the buildings and pitches of the academy are Spanish coaches, whom have been pivotal to the gradual rise of Qatari football. Felix Sanchez recently coached the Qatar U-23 National Team to a 4^th place spot at the U-23 Asian Cup, meanwhile the next generation will be lucky enough to be watched over by the man himself, Xavi. Spain, indeed, is the destination of Akram Afif’s next stop.

With his skills honed at Al-Sadd, before being sent out on loan to Belgian First Division side Eupen alongside Ahmed Moein Doonzadeh and Fahad Al-Abdulrahman, many Arabic football fans with a close eye on the movement of Qatari footballers wondered whether it was merely a marketing ploy or an actual development plan. Moein returned to El-Jaish mid-way through the 2015/16 season to help them in their Asian Champions League battles, but Al-Abdulrahman and Afif saw out Eupen’s season helping them qualify to the Jupiler Pro League on the final day.

Afif’s season was topped off by coming 2^nd in the Best Arab youngster in the Belgian First League, before a tumultuous 24 hours saw his move to Villareal announced sending shockwaves through Arab Twitter – especially in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. The latter have both produced a group of players worthy of playing abroad but the money has been too powerful. Reports have even come out that Afif’s contract is only worth 10% of a top-tier local player in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E.

#AfifSigns

Moving 

Akram Afif is no stranger to Villareal, having spent half of 2014 amongst their youth ranks as a loanee in his second stint abroad; the first one being with fellow Spanish side Sevilla’s Juvenil side. But it wasn’t until late 2014 where Afif earned the plaudits, when he scored the winner against North Korea in the final to help Qatar to their maiden AFC U-19 title signaling a period of optimism for the gulf state’s youth ranks in the near future.

Afif sealed yet another European move months later, with a loan deal to Belgian First Division side KAS Eupen his next destination. He impressed upon his arrival, bagging an important goal on his debut and creating more than two for his teammates against Racing Mechelen in a 5-1 drubbing all in the space of the month. The attacking midfielder scored one more goal before the end of the season, although Eupen failed to earn promotion with a loss in the promotion play-offs.

Akram Afif with Eupen

Afif’s U-20 World Cup appearance over the summer, a tournament where he was arguably Qatar’s best player alongside former Eupen midfielder Ahmad Moein, added yet another landmark to his CV. From Qatar to Spain, through Belgium and all the way to Myanmar before setting off to New Zealand for the U-20 World Cup. All of this for a Qatari player yet to hit the age of 19. Akram Afif, truly an anomaly.

Despite his achievements abroad, it was only in late 2015 when Afif ultimately emerged on the Middle Eastern footballing scenery to wow the “Khaleeji” crowds and warrant a spot in the Qatari National Team. We’ve summarized as to why he may be a unique gem from the Middle East, but what makes this player so special on the pitch?

Position 

Akram Afif can operate anywhere across attacking midfield adeptly but he’s usually found on the left hand side where he can cut inside and create play. Playing under a Spanish coach for most of his national team career, which doesn’t surprise you when it comes to his role as a form of a wide playmaker.

Afif is nimble and creative; he also possesses a great level of acceleration to get ahead of opposition full backs. His ability to position himself in between the lines allows him to draw the full back away from the flank and subsequently the near centre back which in turn opens up space behind the defensive line.

The player has a range of abilities that would be aided by a position on the flanks rather than centrally. A playmaker he is, but his well-rounded skillset suits the modern day winger role on a greater level.

Strengths

Akram Afif’s strengths lie in his technical and offensive attributes as previously mentioned. His ability to pitch in with goals likens him to recent Manchester City Nolito. The Qatari youngster, like Nolito, is more than just one-dimensional. He’s not merely a creator from a deeper wide position, but he can take on players with relative ease. Moreover, his off the ball movement is almost equally as good with his capabilities of running behind the defence and beating the offside line key to his multi-skilled type of play.

Afif’s play certainly needs polishing, but the raw talent has been on show for years in various tournaments across Europe, Asia and Oceania. He really is anything but the archetypal Middle Eastern winger whose main aim is to beat the defender, reach the byline and cross. In fact, Afif’s crossing is relatively rare. If anything, he plays low ones into the box which are strategically and statistically more beneficial for his team and the receiving player.

The changes in body movement is something that won’t catch the eye of Middle Eastern scouts who often solely look for a player’s influence in the final third. Whether it’s his head, his hands, his hips or his feet, Akram Afif beats defenders utilizing changes in his body movement. It’s a sneaky move used by the lad to draw defenders’ attention to one way before slipping an outside of the foot or backheel pass to an onrushing player on the edge of the box. Which means we’re moving on to his creative abilities.

7 assists at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup in 6 games is no mean feat. More than an efficient created chance per game, Afif once again proved that he may as well be in the top bracket of youngsters to come out of the region and that is a rarity for a GCC player – especially before the likes of Omar Abdulrahman were produced. Even so, Omar Abdulrahman never took the step to ply his trade in Europe as Afif is doing now.

His assists weren’t of the same type either. Set-pieces, through balls, combination play and lobbed passes were amongst the different forms of assists that Afif set up for his teammates. The versatility he possesses is second to none in Qatar and maybe across the region, coupled with the quality and experience he has.

On the mental side, Afif is also pioneering for players back home. He often takes all set-pieces for Qatar’s youth teams – free-kicks, corners and penalties – alongside Abdelkarim Hassan (probably the only Qatari player on or near the level of Akram Afif). His penalty taking is an exemplar of his confidence with his stance, style of shooting, facial and body expressions all indicators of his belief in himself. Moreover, as mentioned in the beginning of this article, Afif is unlike many other GCC players. He’s not just taken the chance to play in Europe at such a young age but he has built the start of his career based on it.

Weaknesses

If there’s one thing that needs improvement, it is probably the character of the player. Although confident and cheerful on and off the pitch, Afif had a tendency to show off when he was younger. His performances may not necessarily be selfish but the way he conduced himself on the pitch showed exactly why he was pipped to the captaincy by Ahmed Moein. That aspect has slightly improved ever since his introduction to the Qatari senior national team.

On one hand, playing in Europe is always more beneficial than playing in the Middle East. But on the other hand, having little top flight experience is a potential disadvantage. The jump in quality from Eupen to Villarreal is something else completely. Superpowers Barcelona and Real Madrid are teams that Afif could possibly earn the chance to play against. There is a high chance he will be sent out on loan due to his lack of top-flight experience – but could time off the bench also be beneficial for him? Let’s see what head coach Marcelino has to think.

Afif in Villareal colours

Villarreal have one of the better defensive and compact shapes in European football and the only time Afif has really been tested in a compact, restricted shape is during those moments of retreat in Qatar’s shape.

While Afif does score goals, he could score much more if he polished his final touch. Afif’s movement is sometimes too complex to the extent that both him and his direct opponent will fall to the ground, not allowing him to finish off his moves often. At a higher level that could be read easily in turn seeing him end a season with only a couple of goals to his name.

What do others think? 

Qatari football expert and Ahdaaf writer Ahmed Hashim said the following about Afif’s first outing in a Villarreall shirt: “Having watched parts of both friendly appearances earlier this week, I’d say that he looks confident; with a look on his face that says: Bring it on. I saw how his blistering pace could wreak havoc among defenders in Spain when he latched on to the ball in his own half and sped ahead against Nastic de Tarragona. Leaving the last defender in his wake, he was only stopped by a tackle from behind that saw the defender get sent off. It was an inkling of what Akram could offer.

“That said, I have yet to see if he features in the manager’s plans. There are rumours that he could be sent on loan. I hope not.”

Sandals4Goalpost and Ahdaaf writer Tom Danicek: “I’d say what fills me with optimism regarding Akram Afif’s stint in LaLiga is not only his super-quick thinking and creative mind, but perhaps above all the fact he hasn’t been pampered the way other Middle Eastern stars such as both Abdulrahmans have. He has no history of receiving fat paychecks, he’s got proper footballing education provided – among others – by Spanish coaches, and has even picked up a bit of the language. Also, he’s naturally cheeky, can receive as well as distribute “punches”, and while his constant arguing with referees needs to be eradicated, this is for me another aspect of his assertiveness that should help him flourish in a more competitive environment.”

Conclusion

We’re hoping Akram Afif stays at Villarreal and racking up some time off the bench and earn his way up the substitutes bench. Are we finally going to see the beginning of Qatari football having an effect on European football, on a consistent basis?

The class of game was billed up to an international level.

Ahmad Alaa started off with the team today in the match, scoring in the 34th minute past the offside trap setup goal, which again was breached, slipping the ball through the legs of the Iranian custodian in goal – Mohammad Reza Akhbari. Ali continues with his impressive run from the previous match against China where he was introduced during the 2nd half & scored a goal too. Ali Hasan tried to score one during the dying minutes of the 2nd half however the Iranian goalkeeper safely palmed it away.

Ahmad Alaa celebrates the opener. (Photo: theafcdotcom)

In the 2nd half Iran tried to regain the match back again within 5 minutes of kickoff, with a shot on the Qatari custodian Muhanned Naim, who safely palmed it away at a very tight angle. Muhanned was instrumental during the game, saving an Iranian penalty which was awarded when Ahmad Yasser brought down Iranian forward Arsalan Motahhari.

Later on, none other than Abdelkarim Hassan scored his 3rd goal of the tournament from a corner just like in the previous game against China. His run has been quite impressive too. The Iranians pulled one back just before the end of the game in the dying minutes, however it was too late for the Iran National Team. Qatar go into matchday 3 with a 100% record, where not many people expected them to be at this point.

Coach Felix will be happy that the tough games are over with a comfortable 6 points and a guaranteed position in the quarters. It looks to be seen which will be the 2nd team to qualify from this group along with Qatar.

The next game is with Syria on the 18th. The biggest match-up there will definitely be on the left flank where Abdelkarim Hassan faces Syria’s creative winger Mahmoud Al-Mawas, one of the better players in the tournament. In this game he successfully neutralised Kanani, but Al-Mawas is not easy competition.

Highlights:

We give you an expert Middle Eastern look at the best players to watch, and why.

QATAR

Abdelkarim Hassan

DoB: 28/08/1993

Position: LB – LW | Club: Al-Sadd

Having being a key part of Al-Sadd and Qatar national team setup for the best part of four years, it is sometimes easy to forget Abdelkarim Hassan is just 22 years old. The athletic left back will captain The Maroons at home and will want to lift his first piece of silverware for the nation. One of the early graduates of the famed Aspire Academy, Hassan opted to continue his progress at home with Qatar’s most successful side, Al-Sadd, unlike many of his colleagues who now ply their trade for Qatar owned Eupen in the Belgian second division. This decision has so far proved the right one with the defender lifting the 2011 AFC Champions League. He then established himself as a regular international and now has more than 40 senior caps to his name. Solid in the tackle, the Qatar U-23 captain possesses great pace and athleticism which helps his frequent marauding runs down the left flank. A self-confessed  disciple of the Roberto Carlos school, Hassan never shied away from trying his luck from distance and as the eyes focus on the more attacking players in Doha, Abdelkarim’s experience and ability will prove a vital weapon for the hosts in their pursuit of a spot in Rio2016. -WJ

Ali Asad

DoB: 19/01/1993

Position: CAM | Club: Al-Sadd

If Akram Afif is expected to pump in the goals for Qatar, it will be Ali Asad who will wield the magic wand and set it all up. The midfield maestro has been getting rave reviews ever since he stepped up from the Al-Sadd youth ranks and made his mark with the senior team. Although he made 7 appearances in the league winning campaign of 2012-13, it was 2014 that came to be known as his breakout year. His displays with Al-Sadd led to international call-ups and Asad wasted no time in getting down to business. First he starred for the Qatar B team at the WAFF Championship, picking up the Best Player award before turning in a crucial performance when the senior NT won the Gulf Cup in Riyadh. His rise has continued in 2015; he netted a hattrick against Bhutan in the World Cup/Asian Cup qualifiers while also becoming the go-to man in the Al-Sadd midfield alongside Xavi Hernandez. With lots of top level experience already under his belt, the 22 year old Asad is now one of the four senior players in the Qatar Olympic team. Going into Tuesday’s match against China, the young lads of Qatar will be looking to him to be an inspiration. -AH

Akram Afif

DoB: 18/11/1996

Position: CAM – RW – LW – ST | Club: KAS Eupen [loan]

Without a doubt, the main man for Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship will be Akram Afif. With a pair of quick and tricky feet alongside intelligent finishing, expect him to be a handful for opposing defences. The 19-year forward has been raising eyebrows with a series of impressive displays that has accompanied his rise from the Aspire Academy age group teams. Coming from a footballing family, with both father and brother having played in Qatar, Afif has had a name to live up to. But with the way things are turning out, it seems he will take on the mantle of the family’s best before he’s even 23. Aspire recognized his potential early on and sent him to Villareal and Sevilla to fine-tune his skills. It was in 2014 that Afif actually hogged the headlines with four goals in Qatar’s successful AFC U-19 Championship campaign, including the winner against DPR Korea in the final. He then moved to the Aspire-owned Belgian second division side KAS Eupen, marking his debut with a goal before making further impressive appearances over the year. His rise has been such that he has already been called up to the Qatar senior team and went on to get a goal and an assist on his debut against Bhutan. 2015 also saw Afif play at the U20 World Cup and although Qatar crashed out at the group stage, he managed to score against Senegal. In October, he finished as top scorer with 4 goals in the WAFF U-23 Championship. -AH

IRAN

Rouzbeh Cheshmi:

DoB: 24/06/1993

Position: DM – CB – CM | Club: Esteghlal

Cheshmi is the captain of Iran U-23s national team and is thought of very highly by the coaching staff at club and international level. A defensive midfielder by trait, he can also play at centre back and central midfielder. His leadership skills alongside his high intelligence makes him a crucial player for this side, he is an ever-present figure and gives his team balance by sitting in front of the back four and giving security to his defenders. His composure on the ball makes him a vital part of any offensive move and he’ll be at the heart of everything for this Iran side. -SS

Mohammad Reza Akhbari

DoB: 15/02/1993

Position: GK | Club: Tractor Sazi

Every team needs a good goalkeeper to succeed and Iran have a great number one to rely on when the tournament comes. The 22 year old has had plenty of first team experience as he’s spent the last two seasons playing regular football for Saipa and Tractor Sazi. His performances have made him one of the best keepers in the Persian Gulf Pro League, which has prompted a few call ups to the Iran’s senior team. At 190cm, he is more than capable to command his area. He has been part of the Iran youth setup for a long time so the coaching staff will have full belief in him as he goes into the tournament high in confidence. -SS

Amir Arsalan Motahari

DoB: 10/03/1993

Position: ST | Club: Naft Tehran

This young striker defines the role of a classic “poacher”. He grabbed the attention in the 2014/15 season when his goals helped Naft Tehran qualify from the ACL group as well finishing 3^rd in the domestic league. He was given the “best newcomer” award at the end of the season. He is a smart finisher who comes alive in the box, if he gets the right service he can be one of the deadliest strikers in this tournament. Iran will hope he can carry his great goal scoring tally (12 goals in 17 caps) for the U23s side as they push for an Olympics qualification. -SS

SYRIA

Omar Khribin

DoB: 15/01/1994

Position: CAM – ST | Club: Al-Dhafra (UAE)

Omar Khribin is arguably one of the best players in this tournament, well, for Middle Eastern teams at the very least. His rise has been fantastic, starting off at Al-Wahda in 2003 at the age of 9 years old and lasting with the club until 2011 before playing in the Iraqi Premier League. That is where he became the star he is today, starting off with Quwa Al-Jawiya before ending 2015 with Al-Minaa Al-Basri and leaving the league as top scorer.

He made his big move just a week ago to Al-Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates, playing a sole game before travelling to Doha and catching up with his teammates in the Olympic squad. He arrived in Doha with high morale after scoring on his debut against the biggest club in the U.A.E and one of the region’s top clubs: Al-Ain.

Omar Khribin may be remembered for his double against Singapore a few months ago, where he scored a 93^rd minute winner for Syria in the World Cup Qualifiers. He excelled in that match as a false 10, which is the role he often plays in for club and country. But, Khribin is no stranger to playing up front especially as his physical and technical abilities allow him to thrive with his teammates; most notably Osama Aomry and Mahmoud Al-Mawas. -HF

Mahmoud Al-Mawas

DoB: 1/1/1993

Position: RW – LW | Club: Riffa (BHR) [loan] | Al-Arabi (KUW) [parent club]

Born on the 1^st of January in 1993 (sharing the same birthdate with 5 other players in the team!) Mahmoud Al-Mawas has already earned a blend of experience from the region’s leagues. Like any true “Hamasni” (born in the Syrian city of Homs), Al-Mawas went through the ranks of successful Al-Karamah in Syria that had the likes of Firas Al-Khatib and Mohammad Qwayed as part of the club.

Al-Mawas is a right winger by trade, using his creative abilities more so than your traditional winger like abilities to beat his man. Wall passes, drifting into the centre and even pushing the left back deeper to allow right back Alaa Al-Shibli space on the right are some of his tasks on the field which he excels in. He did exactly that in the Bahraini Clasico against Muharraq:

The partnership between Khribin and Al-Mawas is going to be of high quality due to their time playing together, especially with the good form that they’ve been producing for their clubs too. The Syria team is no doubt one of the stronger teams in the tournament, and now full backs will have to contain the vibrant Al-Mawas too. -HF

Amro Midani

DoB: 26/1/1994

Position: CB | Club: Al-Minaa (IRQ)

Amro Midani is a strong, calm defender for the Syrian Olympic Team and will look to lead the defensive line in the absence of the experienced players who played in the national team. He’s played with Humaid Mido and Omar Khribin at Al-Minaa in Iraq, showing how far the Syrian team goes in terms of chemistry.

He’s only 21 but he’s rational and intelligent, as opposed to being rash and aggressive. He’s one of the better defenders in the Iraqi Premier League at such a young age and he will continue to grow – this tournament being the ideal platform for him to build from. He’s also a product of one of the best youth academies in Syria, Al-Wahda Damascus.

His large afro will certainly grab your attention but watch out for his performances and how he stabilizes the Syrian defence line, who will expect the likes of Arsalan Motahari and Akram Afif. -HF

SAUDI ARABIA

Fahad Al-Muwallad

DoB: 14/09/1994

Position: LW | Club: Al-Ittihad

Fahad Al-Muwallad is more of a player to watch rather than the leading star in this team, and the reason for this is that he may be considered overrated by opposition fans and Al-Ittihad fans themselves. He can either be a frustrating winger who wastes chances, or a deadly forward who will punish defenders. Fahad Al-Muwallad, the Arabian Raheem Sterling?

One thing you cannot take away from the lad is his shooting on its day. Whether it is a bicycle kick, a lob or a powerful long shot straight into the top corner, Fahad Al-Muwallad never fails to surprise you. But placing all hope on him is detrimental, as the weight goes on his small shoulders. When tasked to lead the team recently against Al-Ahli Jeddah in the Crown Prince Cup semi-final, he failed to produce anything worth mentioning.

But, pair him up with Abdulfattah Assiri and Abdulrahman Al-Ghamdi in a competition for youngsters – expect him to excel. -HF

Abdulfattah Assiri

DoB: 26/02/1994

Position: RM | Club: Al-Ittihad

Dubbed the “Messi of Saudi Arabia”, Abdulfattah Assiri is one of the most underrated players in the region and rightly so. Technically gifted, weaving past players like the legend himself at times, it’s going to be interesting how he will play a role in this squad especially that Mustafa Bassas occupies the same role. However, both can operate in the centre if needed.

Assiri is often the creative hub in his team, and he is usually dangerous in all positions. That’s right, whether you find him on the flanks, deeper in the centre, located in the half spaces or even in the box, he will create chances for you. His ability to move between players in tight spaces is relatively on a good level although still a work in progress as he needs to place more emphasis on having a smoother final touch to escape cleanly.

Nevertheless, in terms of eye candy, Assiri is arguably the #1 on that list to watch in this tournament. -HF

Mustafa Al-Bassas

DoB: 02/06/1993

Position: CM – RM – RW – RB | Club: Al-Ahli Jeddah

When the Saudis kick off their U-23 tournament against Thailand, they will be looking at Mustafa Al-Bassas as one of the most senior players in the team. Al-Ahli’s 22 years old man has been in the heart of the Jeddah based club’s unbeaten run of 48 games since 2014. The midfielder first broke into the first team in 2012 under Czech tactician Karel Jarolim, often coming from the bench but gradually established himself alongside Walid Bakhshwin in central midfield. Bassas is also capable of playing out wide as a right back or a right winger. His energy and skill on the ball enables him to play an important role in the team’s attacking play. Yet, his final product needs improvement as evident by his poor return of one assist and no goals from 8 appearances this season and a meagre return of just 4 goals in 2015. Already a full international with 15 senior caps to his name, Bassas is yet to break his international duck. Nevertheless, those stats don’t paint the full picture when it comes to Bassas’ attacking contribution, he often sprays passes to the attacking wide men from deep or ventures in Di Maria-esque runs down the middle to break opponents defences, and despite his unassuming physique (172 cm), the Jeddah-born Ahli youth product does not shy from a tackle and often relishes a midfield battle. His combativeness and forward looking mentality will be key if the Green Falcons are to make it to Rio 2016. -WJ

Speakers:

• Dan J.
• Hamoudi Fayad
• Sina Saemian

Content:

• 00:30 – Iran
• 17:02 – UAE
• 32:11 – Saudi Arabia
• 50:05 – Qatar
• 1:02:37 – Bahrain
• 1:06:55 – Iraq
• 1:09:35 – Jordan
• 1:15:25 – Kuwait
• 1:18:35 – Lebanon
• 1:22:40 – Oman
• 1:24:01 – Palestine
• 1:28:47 – Syria