Qatar Prepares for FIFA Arab Cup with Zimbabwe Friendly Match

Qatar faces Zimbabwe today in a friendly match at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium as part of their preparations for the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup, scheduled to take place from December 1 to 18, 2023. This match marks the first appearance for the Asian champions since their historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup in October, following a decisive 2-1 victory against the United Arab Emirates in a crucial Asian qualifier at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Head coach Julen Lopetegui is focused on fine-tuning the team, known as Al Annabi, for the Arab Cup while also considering their preparations for the World Cup to be hosted next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The team is expected to showcase a blend of experienced players and emerging talent from the Qatar Stars League.

Squad Updates and Key Players

Lopetegui recently announced a 26-player squad, resting several key figures. Notable absentees include star forward Akram Afif and defenders Boualem Khoukhi, Karim Boudiaf, and Pedro Miguel. Winger Edmilson Junior and midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem will also miss the match, while striker Almoez Ali is recovering from successful leg surgery in London.

The squad features experienced players such as Tarek Salman, Mohammed Waad, and Asim Madibo. Notably, Yusuf Abdurisag has been called up to replace Ahmed Al Rawi and Ahmed Al Janehi, both of whom sustained injuries during training.

Zimbabwe’s Preparation for Africa Cup of Nations

Zimbabwe, ranked 129th in the FIFA rankings—77 spots lower than Qatar—is also gearing up for their own international competition, the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. The team will face tough opponents including Egypt, South Africa, and Angola in the group stage.

Under the leadership of new coach Mario Marinica, who recently took over from Michael Nees after a challenging World Cup qualifying campaign, Zimbabwe aims to improve their performance. Their preparation began with a friendly match against Algeria, which ended in a 1-3 defeat.

Todays’ friendly match between Qatar and Zimbabwe is set to kick off at 19:30 local time, providing both teams with a valuable opportunity to refine their strategies ahead of their respective tournaments.