Marrakech, Morocco – Today, Qatar go dey face Bahrain for friendly match wey go happen for Al Thumama Stadium for Doha, wey go start at 6:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. Moroccan time). Na to prepare well for the Asian qualifiers wey dey come for 2026 World Cup na this match dey serve as.
Qatar, wey dem dey call Al Annabi, don dey struggle small-small as dem finish fourth for their last AFC qualifying round, gather only 13 points from 10 matches, plus na single point dem collect for five away matches. E no sweet. This kin wahala don make dem dey waka round to qualify again.
Manager Julen Lopetegui, wey assume position since May, dey under pressure (shai, we fit call am wahala manager?). As dem dey prepare for this match, e go be chance to check him boys well before dem face serious fixtures again. E no too give dem confidence as dem don suffer defeat from Udinese and Lebanon for preseason friendlies sha.
Some quarter don dey talk sey Qatar and Saudi Arabia dey get advantage as dem don get the chance to host this next qualifying round. Na wetin dem call ‘family wahala’ because dem say FIFA dey close with these countries. Qatar don host last FIFA World Cup, and Saudi Arabia dey prepare to host for 2034. E go sweet to see wetin go happen next.
Even as dem dey waka through wahala, many people still dey believe sey Qatar fit qualify well as dem dey face Oman and UAE next month. But make dem shine their eye o, UAE don show sey dem be strong team wey fit beat dem.
Bahrain no dey any better, dem just finish bottom for their group wey get tough teams like Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. Dem collect only six points from 10 matches (chai, as dem fit manage this one?). At least, to get to this stage na small success for dem as dem get limited resources.
Tonight match sabi sey Qatar dey enter with Akram Afif wey don score 38 international goals and him dey ready to carry the team. Goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham fit earn him 50th cap today but no be sure if dem go pick am. Meanwhile, Bahrain still get their stars dem wey sabi the game well, including Mahdi Abd Al Jabar wey go lead dem front.
After this friendly, Qatar go face Russia on Saturday wey go follow up this mood. All dis warm-up games, e no go dey waste as dem get two crucial World Cup qualifying matches coming up on October 8 and 14.
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