KUWAIT CITY, Nov 26: Al-Arabi is rallying under the banner of victory as it strives to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the AFC Cup’s West Asia region. The crucial encounter against Al-Zawraa of Iraq, scheduled for 9:00 pm at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, marks the fifth round of the second group stage. Currently in third place with 4 points, Al-Arabi trails behind Iraq’s Al-Zawraa (7 points), while Bahrain’s Al-Riffaa leads with 10 points.

A triumph in today’s match is imperative for securing the top position, surpassing Bahrain’s Al-Riffaa and leaving no room for Lebanon’s Al-Najma, who has only one point and is already out of contention. The top three teams from each group, along with the best second-placed team, will advance to the West Asia semi-finals. Despite a strong start, including a 2-1 victory over Al-Zawraa on their home turf, Al-Arabi faced setbacks, drawing with the underdog Al-Najma in the second round and succumbing to defeats against Al-Riffa in the third and fourth rounds.

This has made the direct qualification ticket a challenging pursuit. In response to the decline in performance, Al-Arabi’s board, in collaboration with Bosnian coach Darko Nestorović, decided to bring him in as the successor to German Thomas Berdaric.

The team acknowledges the difficulties ahead, especially considering recent player injuries, the pause period allowed for the return and recovery of key players, making the squad complete for the clash against the Iraqi team. Al-Zawraa, well-prepared for the encounter, secured a 4-0 victory against Al-Kadhimiya in a recent friendly match. Despite resting some key players, coach Hossam Al-Badri emphasized the importance of achieving victory for Al-Zawraa’s progress.

Both coaches, Darko and Al-Badri, concurred on the challenging nature of the match and stressed the significance of securing a win to continue their journey in the competition. Darko, acknowledging the team’s nine injuries, expressed determination to persevere, while Al-Badri highlighted his team’s readiness and the necessity of securing three points for advancement.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff