The Moroccan national team won the Arab Beach Soccer Cup for the first time in its history, after defeating its Mauritanian counterpart, 6-5, on Monday, in the final match of the fifth edition of the tournament, which was held in the Egyptian governorate of Port Said, during the period from 5 to 9 November.
The Secretary-General of the Arab Football Federation, Raja Allah Al-Sulami, with the participation of Mohamed El-Sherbiny, a member of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Football Association, handed over the championship cup to the Moroccan national team, which joined the record of champions alongside the national teams of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, each of which had previously won the title twice.
The Moroccan team topped the second group with 7 points, after defeating Lebanon 7-4 and Libya 7-1, and defeating Oman on penalty kicks after a 5-5 draw in regular and extra time, before the Egyptian team surpassed the home team with a score of 3-2 in the semi-finals.
On the other hand, the Mauritanian team reached the final match after topping the first group with 6 points, after defeating Iraq 8-1 and Egypt 4-1, while losing to Saudi Arabia 2-3, before defeating Lebanon 5-3 in the semi-finals.
In terms of individual awards, Moroccan Amhamed Manar won the best goalkeeper award in the tournament, while Mauritanian Sheikh Belkheir won the best player award, and Lebanese Mohamed Al-Saleh was crowned top scorer with 8 goals.
The fifth edition witnessed the participation of 8 teams: Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq and Libya, while the total goals scored reached 117 goals during 15 matches.
The Lebanese Football Association renewed its support for Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), in a position announced by its President Hashem Haider during the international official’s visit to Lebanon, which witnessed the opening of a new stadium in the town of Chanet in the Aley district of Mount Lebanon, and the unveiling of the progress of studies for a project to establish an integrated football facility that includes a stadium, a training center and a headquarters for the Lebanese Federation.
Haider said: “I take this opportunity to announce that the Lebanese Football Association stands by you and supports you,” in an announcement that comes as the deadline for submitting nominations for the FIFA presidential elections approaches.
For his part, Infantino confirmed his connection to Lebanon and the International Federation’s continued support for football projects there, saying in Arabic: “Good morning Lebanon, good morning Shania... I am happy,” before adding: “I am happy because I am here, and as you know Lebanon is my home.”
The FIFA President spoke about his aspirations for the future of Lebanese football, saying: “Together we will do many, many things. We will make Lebanon shine on the world football map, and on the global map.”
Infantino's visit included the opening of the FIFA Arena stadium in the town of Chanet, as part of a project aimed at providing football fields for children in local communities, and making them available to the people of neighboring villages, and not just the townspeople.
Haidar explained that the project falls within a broader plan to establish similar playgrounds in other Lebanese regions, noting that hundreds of children and girls will be able to benefit from the new facility.
Regarding the infrastructure file, the President of the Lebanese Federation revealed that studies related to a new sports project, with the support of the International Federation, have reached their final stages, in preparation for the transition to implementation.
The project includes the construction of a football stadium, a training center, and an administrative headquarters for the Lebanese Federation, allowing the collection of a number of technical and administrative activities in one facility.
Haidar pointed out that a delegation from the Lebanese Federation, which included Secretary-General Jihad Al-Shahf and a representative of the President of the Republic, recently visited Morocco to see a facility similar to the project to be implemented in Lebanon.
The financial cost of the project, its final location, or the specific timetable for starting and completing the work was not announced during the visit.
Haidar discussed the previous contributions of the International Federation to the rehabilitation of Lebanese stadiums and sports facilities, in addition to the programs dedicated to developing the game, noting also the continued cooperation with the Asian Football Confederation.
The opening of the stadium was preceded by discussions between Infantino and Haider in the latter’s office at the headquarters of the Southern Council, which dealt with the situation of Lebanese football, projects related to the development of its facilities, and ways to enhance cooperation between the two federations.
Infantino also visited Sheikh Akl of the Druze Unitarian sect, Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Munna, in the town of Shania, before heading to the new stadium, where a number of area school children participated in a football activity on the occasion of the opening of the facility.
Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, sister of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, was elected Vice-President of the Qatar Olympic Committee at the Extraordinary General Assembly held today (Monday).
Sheikha Hind, sister of the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.
Sheikha Hind (42 years old) previously participated in the Hamburg Triathlon, which is the largest triathlon race in the world, which was held in 2021 in the German city of Hamburg.
The General Assembly, which was held under the chairmanship of Sheikh Joaan, witnessed the appointment of Mohammed bin Youssef Al Mana as Vice President, after Dr. Thani bin Abdul Rahman Al Kuwari apologized for his position.
Qatar, which will host the Asian Games for the second time in 2030, hopes to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, becoming the first host in the Middle East and North Africa.
Qatar competes with India, South Africa, Germany, Hungary, South Korea, and Turkey.
The “ongoing dialogue” continues with interested potential hosts away from the limelight, and will be followed, starting in March 2027, by a “strategic dialogue” with an initial list of candidates, as explained in June by committee chair Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.
Sheikh Joaan, who also heads the Olympic Council of Asia, said: “We currently have a sports infrastructure that is 95 percent ready to host the Olympics, and we have an integrated national plan that ensures that all facilities are 100 percent ready.”
