Doha, Qatar – Several teams secured their places in the group stage of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 following a dramatic set of qualification matches yesterday. Comoros, Oman, Bahrain, and Sudan all advanced to join the already qualified nations, setting the stage for a competitive tournament. Sudan’s victory over Lebanon, despite playing a large portion of the match with a man down, was a particularly notable result.
The qualification matches, held across several stadiums in Qatar, saw a mix of straightforward wins and nail-biting finishes. Comoros, for example, overcame Yemen 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 4-4 draw, while Oman advanced after a goalless draw against Somalia, winning their shootout 4-1. These results will finalize the groups for the upcoming tournament.
Sudan and Bahrain Complete Group D Lineups
Sudan’s qualifying football match against Lebanon proved to be a thrilling contest. Despite a red card to John Robia in the 24th minute, leaving them with 10 players, Sudan rallied to defeat Lebanon 2-1 at Thani bin Jassim Stadium in front of a crowd exceeding 20,000.
Lebanon initially took the lead through Khalil Khamis in the 30th minute, capitalizing on Sudan’s numerical disadvantage. However, Sudan responded quickly with an own goal by Mohammed Haider in the 43rd minute, leveling the score before halftime. Yaser Jobak then scored the winning goal in the 73rd minute, cementing Sudan’s place in Group D. This Arab Cup qualification represents a significant step for Sudanese football.
Meanwhile, Bahrain secured their qualification with a 1-0 victory over Djibouti at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. Mohamed Al Romaihi scored the decisive goal in the 36th minute. Djibouti’s task was further complicated by a red card for Ahmed Zakaria in the 44th minute, reducing their team to ten players.
Dramatic Comoros Comeback
In a pulsating match at Grand Hamad Stadium, Comoros displayed remarkable resilience against Yemen. Yemen dominated the early stages, building a 2-1 lead by halftime with goals from Harwan Al Zubaidi and Abdulwasea Al Matari, while Housseine Zakouani scored a penalty for Comoros.
The second half saw further drama, as an own goal and another strike from Al Matari pushed Yemen to a seemingly comfortable 4-2 lead. However, Comoros launched a stunning late comeback, scoring twice in stoppage time through Zaid Amir and Kassim Hadji to force a penalty shootout. They then converted all their penalties, securing their spot in the tournament’s group stage. This qualifies Comoros for Group B alongside Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
Oman also secured their spot through penalties, defeating Somalia 4-1 after a 0-0 draw following 90 minutes of regulation play. Ibrahim Al Rajhi proved to be the hero for Oman, saving key penalties during the shootout. The win will give Oman a boost after being disappointed by missing out on the FIFA World Cup last month.
The qualification phase continues to draw attention to the growing strength of footballing nations throughout the Arab world, and the competition is expected to be fierce in the group stage. The tournament is viewed as a key preparation event for Qatar ahead of potentially hosting future major international competitions.
The group stage of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 is set to begin on December 1st, with hosts Qatar facing Palestine and last-edition’s runners-up Tunisia taking on Syria. The full tournament schedule and group compositions are now finalized, and fans will be eagerly anticipating the start of the competition. Further details regarding broadcasting rights and ticket sales are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
