CAIRO, Nov 17: Kuwait will conclude its training camp in Cairo today when it meets Gambia in a friendly at 7:00 p.m. at Al-Salam Stadium. The camp serves as final preparation for the crucial playoff against Mauritania on November 25, which will determine qualification for the Arab Cup finals in Qatar from December 1 to 18.

Tonight’s match is Kuwait’s second in the Egyptian capital, following a 4–3 comeback victory over Tanzania last Saturday.

The squad is set to depart for Doha the day after tomorrow to continue its buildup for the Mauritania clash. Should Kuwait advance from the playoff, it will join Group C alongside the UAE, Jordan, and Egypt.

Head coach Hélio Sousa, who took charge last August, is eyeing a second straight win in what will be his fifth match at the helm. Under his leadership, Kuwait previously drew 2–2 with Syria before suffering defeats to Uzbekistan (0–2) and Morocco’s local national team (0–1).

Sousa hopes to see the same strong performance his players delivered in the second half against Tanzania, where Kuwait overturned a two-goal deficit to win. A victory tonight, he believes, would be a major morale boost before the team heads to Doha.

During recent training sessions, Sousa focused on correcting defensive lapses seen in the first half against Tanzania, stressing tactical discipline, tighter organization across all lines, and full commitment to the technical staff’s instructions.

Meanwhile, Gambia’s Northern Irish coach Jonathan McKinstry is targeting a win to improve his team’s FIFA ranking. Since being appointed in May 2024, McKinstry has guided Gambia to several convincing displays.

He has called up 19 players for the Kuwait match, including professionals competing in leagues across Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Poland, Norway, England, Germany, and Denmark.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff