Qatar’s U-23 Team Triumphs with Dramatic 2-1 Victory Over Bahrain

Qatar’s U-23 football team secured a place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup set to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7-25, 2026, following a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bahrain on Tuesday. This decisive win came in the dying moments of the match, with a penalty awarded in the ninth minute of added time.

The victory marked the culmination of a successful qualifying campaign for Qatar, who won all three of their matches. The team dominated throughout but found themselves trailing after a goal from Bahrain’s Abdulrahman Sami Al Khayyat in the 71st minute. Despite being reduced to ten men after a red card to Ayoub Mohamed Al Ouwi, Qatar rallied back with two goals in stoppage time, thanks to efforts from Al Hashmi Al Hussain and Jassim Al Sharshani.

Players Reflect on the Hard-Fought Match

After the match, striker Mubarak Shanan expressed pride in the team’s resilience. “It was difficult to face the strong Bahrain team, but we were able to defeat them and qualify for the Asian Cup,” he stated. He noted that the atmosphere during the game was intense but credited the team’s adherence to their coach’s strategy for their success.

Teammate Mohammed Siraj, who played a crucial role by scoring in all three Group H matches, acknowledged the physical and mental demands of the week. “The match was difficult because we were playing three matches in one week. We knew about the fatigue and pressure on us, but we finished it with a score of 2-1,” he explained.

Midfielder Abdulaziz Mohammed highlighted the collective effort that led to their victory. “Everyone gave their all. We played with one heart as one team, from the goalkeeper to the striker, and the substitutes did not fall short,” he remarked.

Bahrain Acknowledges Qatar’s Performance