Muhammad Haider: Participating in the tournament constitutes a challenge and an incentive to achieve an honorable achievement that fills fans with happiness
Mohamed Haider, captain of the Lebanese national team, expressed his happiness at participating in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™, which is of great importance to his country’s national team, and provides him with an opportunity to lead the Cedar national team and reach an advanced stage in the tournament.
In a meeting with the local organizing committee, Haider said that participating in the tournament against a number of the best Arab teams constitutes a challenge and an incentive at the same time to exert more effort, play with the spirit of one team, and insist on achieving an honorable achievement that fills the fans with happiness, noting that every match is a platform to draw attention to the capabilities of the Lebanese team.
Haider stressed the role of the regional championship in highlighting emerging Arab talents on the global scene. He said: “Every player dreams of participating in a major tournament. We have confidence in our abilities and we are fully prepared to play the matches and raise Lebanon’s name on the largest platform in the region. When we go out on the field, we see the entire Lebanese people alongside us.”
Haider said that he is keen in every match to do his best, to deliver a performance that pleases the fans and makes them proud in front of the world, noting that playing the national anthem before the start of the match is considered one of the poignant moments that carry feelings of emotion and pride.
He continued: “When the national anthem is played, I am overwhelmed with feelings that take me to my country, and motivate me to deliver a performance befitting the Lebanese flag, and achieve an achievement that brings joy to the hearts of my people and raises the name of my country in international forums.”
Regarding participating in the previous edition of the Arab Cup in Qatar in 2021, Haider said that it was a wonderful experience at all levels, especially with playing in sports facilities that are considered among the most modern in the world and not just in the Arab region. He added: “From the moment we arrived at the airport until we entered the stadiums, we enjoyed an exceptional experience in a tournament that recorded widespread success and attracted the interest of fans in the region and around the world.”
In the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™, Haider led his country during its journey in the group stage, which witnessed a victory over its Sudanese counterpart with an unanswered goal, but the Cedar team was not fortunate enough to advance beyond the group stage.
The State of Qatar will host the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ from December 1 to 18, with the participation of 23 teams competing to win the Arab World Cup title.
The draw for the tournament resulted in the Lebanese national team being in the fourth group alongside Algeria, the defending champion, Iraq, and the winner of the Bahrain-Djibouti match. The Lebanese national team will face its Sudanese counterpart in a decisive match in the qualifying stage on November 26 at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium.
To view the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ match schedule, please visit: www.roadtoqatar.qa
To obtain all information and updates related to the tournament, please follow @arabcupqa and @roadtoqatar on all social media platforms.