The Lebanese junior national team (under 17 years old) was crowned champion of the West Asian Federation Junior Championship in its thirteenth edition, after defeating its Yemeni counterpart on penalty kicks 4-3, after regular time ended in a goalless draw, in the final match that brought them together, on Monday evening, at Aqaba Stadium in Jordan.
The first half was equal between the two teams, with a similar percentage of possession and an exchange of offensive attempts. The Lebanese national team maintained its defensive discipline in the face of Yemeni attacks, while trying to reach the goal on more than one occasion, but its attempts did not translate into goals.
The half also witnessed a number of Yemeni attempts, which the Lebanese defense dealt with successfully, while others went outside the three goals, ending the first half without goals.
The balance continued in the second half, as the two teams exchanged possession and attacks, with each of them having a relative advantage in different periods of the match. The two sides sought to snatch the decisive goal, but the mutual attempts did not bear fruit, so the goalless tie remained until the end of regular time, and a penalty shootout was decided to determine the identity of the champion, for the second time for the Lebanese team after the semi-final against Jordan.
In the penalty shootout, the Lebanese national team succeeded in resolving the confrontation with a score of 4-3, winning the title of the thirteenth edition of the West Asian Federation Junior Championship, confirming its presence in the final match for the second time in a row, and achieving a new achievement for Lebanese football at the level of age group teams.
Secretary-General of the West Asian Football Federation, Khalil Al-Salem, and Secretary-General of the Lebanese Football Association, Jihad Al-Shahf, took turns distributing medals, while Al-Shahf handed the championship cup to the captain of the Lebanese national team, Mohamed Madi. Goalkeeper Mahdi Mekki was also crowned the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
The Lebanese national team was represented in the match by: goalkeeper Mehdi Mekki and players Ralph Emad, Mohamed Madi, Omar Dalal, Jawad Maslamani, Mohamed Shahoud, Mohamed Hamiyeh, Sari Hanoun (Jad Barouk 90+3), Malek Maarkash, Jad Al-Zoubi, and Ibrahim Farshoukh (Hussein Kurdi 72).
Algerian international Riyad Mahrez arrived in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Monday, in preparation for completing the procedures for his transfer to the Qatari Al-Shamal Club in a free transfer deal.
Al-Shamal Club stated through its official account that Mahrez arrived in Doha in order to undergo the necessary medical examinations, in a step prior to completing the official procedures and signing the contracts for his joining the team.
The negotiations between Al-Shamal and the Algerian player had witnessed development over the past few days, before an agreement was reached regarding his transfer, so that the deal became close to the official announcement after completing the medical examination and completing the contractual aspects.
Mahrez, 35 years old, has a long career in European football, where he excelled with Leicester City and helped win the English Premier League title in the 2015-2016 season, before moving to Manchester City, with whom he won many local and continental championships, including the Champions League.
Mahrez played his last experience with Al-Ahly Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he led them to win two consecutive titles in the Asian Elite League before he became available for a free transfer.
It is expected that Mahrez's arrival will represent a prominent offensive addition to the North, and will also bring him into the team with his compatriot Baghdad Bounedjah, if the deal is officially completed during the coming period.
Egyptian international Hamdi Fathi, the Qatari Al-Wakrah midfielder, returned to his team’s group training after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the stadiums during the recent period.
Fathi appeared in Al Wakrah's final training session wearing a protective mask at the level of the nose, after undergoing surgical intervention following the injury he suffered during the match against Al Sailiya in the Qatar Cup, before the start of the final international break.
The player's return came at a time when Al-Wakra is preparing to face Al-Gharafa, next Thursday, at Khalifa International Stadium in the fifth round of the Qatari League, while his position on participating primarily in the match has not yet been determined.
The injury prevented Hamdi Fathi from joining the Egyptian national team during the recent break.
Fathi is considered one of the main players in Al-Wakrah’s ranks, after he joined the team in the summer of 2023 from Al-Ahly of Egypt, before the club renewed his contract to continue within its ranks until June 2029.
The player's return to training remains a positive indicator for Al Wakrah's technical staff before the resumption of league competitions, in light of the reliance on him as one of the influential elements in the midfield.
