Bahrain set up tough friendlies
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain’s senior men’s national football team have scheduled a pair of international friendly matches next month in the Kingdom.
This was announced yesterday by the Bahrain Football Association (BFA).
The nationals will first take on Palestine on March 25 and then face off with Syria on March 28.
It will be the first international games for the Bahrainis since competing in the 25th Arab Gulf Cup in Iraq in January.
The nationals, coached by Helio Sousa, will be using the matches to prepare for their upcoming competitions, including the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, to be held in Doha.
The tournament is originally scheduled to take place this summer, but it is expected to be rescheduled to a later date that has yet to be announced by organisers.
Qatar is hosting the event after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that China would not be able to stage the tournament due to the circumstances caused by COVID-19.
Bahrain are one of 24 teams who have qualified for the Asian Cup.
The draw for the preliminary round has yet to be held by the AFC.
Bahrain’s friendlies with Palestine and Syria have emerged after the national team withdrew from the West Asian Football federation (WAFF) Championship, which was supposed to be held in March.
The decision came after the UAE recently apologised for being unable to host the tournament, and the WAFF has yet to announce a replacement country to host the event.
The friendlies are therefore on the national team’s schedule instead of the WAFF championship, where Bahrain are the defending champions.
The nationals won the title for the first time in the 2019 edition after defeating hosts Iraq 1-0 in an exciting final.
Bahrain not only clinched their historic first title in the regional competition, but also claimed their maiden success under Sousa, who appeared in his first major competition as Bahrain head coach at the time.
The Bahrainis received prize money of $100,000 along with their gold medals.
Meanwhile, the BFA also announced yesterday that the Kingdom’s under-23 Olympic football team will play two international friendlies next month, both against their counterparts from Estonia.
The games are scheduled for March 24 and 26 at home.
The Olympic team, coached by Dario Basic from Croatia, will be using the friendlies to help prepare for their qualifiers to the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024, which are set to take place later this year.
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