After a nine-year halt, Arab national teams competed for the Fifa Arab Cup.
The Arab Cup 2021 in Qatar on 30 November-18 December features 16 teams from across the Arab world.
Morocco won the Arab Cup in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, while Iraq tops the list with four wins, followed by Saudi Arabia with two. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have each taken the trophy home once.
This 19-day tournament is a great opportunity for teams and spectators alike to experience the spirit of Qatar and the iconic stadiums hosting the 2022 World Cup.
The teams are divided into four groups: Group A includes Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Bahrain. Group B embraces Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Mauritania. Group C is made up of Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Palestine, while Group D brings together Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon and Sudan.
Fifa President Giovanni Infantino said the Fifa Arab Cup is a perfect rehearsal for the biggie next year.
Infantino expects the next World Cup ever because “all the stadiums are very close to each other.”
“I attended four different matches in one day, which is good for spectators,” Infantino said.
The Fifa Arab Cup is not without surprises, though. Syria has been knocked out of the group stages, but it had a surprising win against Tunisia.
Also, the tournament has so far seen some interesting matches. There were fireworks aplenty when Egypt met Algeria.
Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, UAE, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt and Algeria are all competing for the quarter finals and book places in the semis.
Qatar topped Group A with nine points, after winning the three matches.
The Omani national team took only four points from a win and a draw.
Tunisia is in the lead in Group B with six points from two wins and one defeat, as did UAE. However, the number of goals took Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles to the top.
Morocco secured their lead of Group C with three wins, making 9 points, followed by Jordan, which advanced thanks to its 6 points from two wins and a defeat.
For Group D, Egypt is top with seven points from two wins and one draw. Algeria came second with the same numbers, but with more yellow and red cards.
Tunisia forward Seifeddin Jaziriis is the top scorer of the tournament so far.
Each team in the competition will receive $750,000 and qualifiers for the quarter-finals will have $1 million pressed into their hands.
For the first place, $5 million, second place, $3 million, third place $2 million, and last and least, the fourth with $1.5m.
