Our national junior football team held on to its hopes of qualifying for the second round of the 2025 World Cup in Qatar after drawing 1-1 with the South African national team in the match that took place between them yesterday evening in the second round of Group A. Al-Anabi took the lead with Yazan Hani’s goal after 3 minutes, and Emile Witbooi equalized in the 16th minute.
In the second match, the Italian team defeated the Bolivia team 4-0, and Al-Anabi got a point and the South African team raised its score to 4 points, Italy to 6 points and guaranteed qualification, and finally Bolivia in fourth place with no points.
Annabi has a chance to qualify if it wins over Bolivia in the third round and South Africa falters against Italy.
Al-Anabi played a very good match and deserved to win and had many chances. In the 16th minute, from a cross, the ball reached Emile Witbooi’s head and he snatched it into the net, scoring a draw. Al-Anabi retreated somewhat due to the great pressure of the opposing team, but quickly regained self-confidence and almost shocked (Al-Oulad) with the second goal when Tamim Al-Qadi quickly launched from the left and passed a cross that was saved by the defense in the 22nd minute.
Our team appeared better in the second half and was the most dangerous and closest to the goal. It had a golden opportunity in the 54th minute due to a defensive error in which Tamim Al-Qadi made a rush and played it, collided with the defense and turned into a corner.
In the 73rd minute, an easy cross ball sent by Tamim Al-Qadi was missed, and Muhammad Abdel Rahman was late in catching it, and it passed in front of him while the goal was wide open.
Al-Anabi retreated in the last minutes in order to maintain the tie, and after the players made an extraordinary effort throughout the match, the match ended in a positive draw for both teams.
“Boys” chants ignite the stands
In the final moments of the match between our national team and its South African counterpart, the stands witnessed an exceptionally enthusiastic atmosphere, after the boys’ chants lit up the stands with their voices and chants that echoed throughout the stadium, giving a distinctive public character to the conclusion of the confrontation. The large attendance in the stands interacted with the spontaneous chants uttered by the children, as the atmosphere was filled with joy and positive encouragement, which motivated the players on the field and increased the pace of excitement in the final minutes of the match. This beautiful initiative received wide praise from fans and followers, as it added a family spirit of enthusiasm that reflects Qatar’s success in making the tournament a unique public experience that combines sporting enjoyment and a festive atmosphere.
Belgium sweeps the Fiji Islands by seven
The Belgium national team defeated its Fiji counterpart, 7-0, in the match that brought them together yesterday evening. Belgium raised its score to 3 points, occupying second place, ahead of Tunisia, which is in third place, on goal difference, while the Fiji Islands are in fourth place, without a score of points.
Noah Fernandez opened the scoring early in the fifth minute, then Capela Rivera added the second goal in the eighth minute, and then Rene Motengo scored the third goal in the 22nd minute.
Luke Alvarez scored the fourth goal in the 29th minute, before Rene Motengo scored three consecutive goals in the 34th, 77th and 86th minutes of the match.
Croatia and Senegal win
The UAE junior national team lost to the Croatia national team (0-3), in a strong confrontation that brought together the two teams at Stadium No. 4 in the Aspire region, for the second round of the third group competitions in the U-17 World Cup finals.
The UAE national team’s score froze at one point, which it obtained from a draw with Costa Rica in the first round (1-1), while the Croatia team raised its score to 4 points, after its draw in the first round with Senegal (0-0).
In the same group, Senegal won 1-0 over Costa Rica, bringing the Senegalese team to 4 points, while Costa Rica stood at one point.