Bahrain make final call-ups for qualifiers

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain head coach Helio Sousa last night named a final list of 26 players for the senior men’s national team that will suit up for their final joint-qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 starting next week.

The squad features 11 names from Bahrain league champions Riffa as well as the return of mainstays from Muharraq and Hidd, who were previously left off the squad that took part in a two-week training camp and played a pair of international friendlies due to club commitments.

The tune-up games included a 1-1 draw with European giants Ukraine on Sunday in Kharkiv at the beginning of the week, followed by a 2-0 win over Malaysia on Friday at the National Stadium.

Following a rest day yesterday, the nationals are scheduled to return to begin training today in the final lead-up to the qualifiers. The team includes Ali Haram, Ali Madan, Hamad Shamsan, Hashim Isa, Jassim Al Shaikh, Kumail Alaswad, Mahdi Humaidan, Mohammed Marhoon, Redha Isa, Sayed Baqer and Sayed Shubbar Alawi from Riffa; Abdulwahab Al Malood, Ismaeel Abdullatif, Sayd Mohammed Jaafar and Waleed Al Hayam from Muharraq; Ahmed Bughammar, Ahmed Mirza and Mohammed Abdulwahab from Hidd; Abdulla Hazaa and Mohammed Al Rumaihi from East Riffa; Rashed Al Hooti from Al Najma; Jassim Khulaif from Budaiya; Ahmed Nabeel from Manama; Abbas Fadhel from Al Shabab; Ebrahim Lutfallah from Al Khaldiya; and overseas-based professional Sayed Dhiya Saeed from Al Nasr SC in Kuwait.

Bahrain are in Group C of joint-qualification along with Iraq, Iran, Cambodia and Hong Kong. They kick off their remaining matches on Thursday against Cambodia, before taking on Iran on June 7 and then Hong Kong on June 15. The locations of the training sessions for each team have been confirmed by the Bahrain Football Association as well as inspected and approved by a representative from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Bahrain will be holding their practices at Al Ahli in Zinj, Iraq at the Hamad Town pitch, Iran at Najma in Juffair; Hong Kong at the BFA pitch in Riffa, and Cambodia at Riffa Club. The Bahrainis are currently second in the group with nine points. Iraq are the leaders with 11, Iran third with six, while Hong Kong and Cambodia complete the Group C table with five points and one point, respectively. There are eight groups in all in this round of qualifiers, with five nations in each group. At the end of this stage of qualification, the eight group winners and the four best runners-up advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying, and also secure their berths in the Asian Cup.

The next best 24 teams will play in a separate competition for the remaining 12 slots in the Asian Cup.