Staff Writer
Even without their main players, Asian champions Qatar are confident as they get ready to face Group C leaders Panama in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal on Sunday.
In addition to missing injured striker Almoez Ali for the entirety of the group stage, Qatar will be without a number of players due to bans in this match. Yousuf Abdurisag, a forward, is also on the list. He missed the match against Mexico after receiving a red card against Honduras.
Additionally, due to receiving yellow cards in back-to-back games, goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, who performed brilliantly in a stunning 1-0 victory over favorites Mexico, along with defender Tarek Salman, midfielders Mohammad Waad and Ahmed Fathi, and striker Tamim Mansour Moftah, will miss the match.
Assim Madibo, a midfielder for Qatar, expressed faith in his team’s ability to play with firepower against Panama and advance to the semifinals at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In a statement, Madibo stated that “all the available players are looking to give their best and play with responsibility to continue our march in the tournament.”
But the midfielder noted that Panama, who finished first in Group C with two victories and a draw, will be a difficult opponent.
“Panama has a talented group of players. They did well in the competition, so facing them will be a tough test. But we are motivated to put up a solid performance and keep up our battling spirit,” he continued.
Bassam Al Rawi, a defender who missed the Mexico encounter due to a suspension, will play in the Panama match. Mohammad Muntari will likely be the attack’s focal point if Almoez is unable to fully recover in time.
Abdulla Al Maarafi, another Qatari midfielder, said the club wants to improve on its semifinal appearance from its first tournament appearance two years ago.
