The road to the trophy narrows today as the FIFA Arab Cup enters its ruthless knockout stage in Qatar.
Thursday brings high-stakes drama to the pitch. Two pivotal matches will decide the first set of semi-finalists in a tournament that concludes on December 18.
All eyes are on the Khalifa International Stadium. Here, former champions Morocco will battle a gritty Syrian squad. Meanwhile, the day’s second fixture features a highly anticipated showdown between Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
Morocco’s Dominant Run to the FIFA Arab Cup Quarter-Final
The “Atlas Lions” enter this round as clear heavyweights. Under the tactical guidance of head coach Tarik Sektioui, the North African side stormed through Group B undefeated.
They secured the top spot with seven points, signaling their intent to capture a second title to add to their 2012 victory.
Their path to the last eight has been clinical:
-
Defense: A tight 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
-
Offense: A commanding 3-1 victory against Comoros.
-
Resilience: A scoreless 0-0 draw with Oman.
Syria’s Hard-Fought Survival
Opposing them is a battle-hardened Syrian team that knows how to grind out results. They finished as runners-up in Group A with five points, proving difficult to break down.
Syria’s journey has been defined by stubborn defense and timely goals. They held both Palestine (0-0) and host nation Qatar (1-1) to draws. Crucially, a slender 1-0 win over Tunisia booked their ticket to the knockout phase.
Upcoming Weekend Action
The excitement extends beyond Thursday. The quarter-final frenzy continues into Friday with two more matchups.
Jordan is set to challenge Iraq for a place in the next round. Furthermore, Algeria will face the United Arab Emirates to complete the semi-final bracket.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lionel Messi Rewrites History as First Back-to-Back MLS MVP Winner
