Yahya Al-Ghassani, a star of the UAE national team, emphasized the difficulty and importance of the upcoming match between "Al-Abyad" (the UAE national team) and their Egyptian counterparts, as part of the second round of the Arab Cup Qatar 2025 tournament. Al-Ghassani's remarks came during a press conference held on Friday, where he highlighted the psychological and technical preparations of the UAE team before this crucial encounter.
Al-Ghasani's statements and respect for the competitor
Speaking to the media, Al-Ghasani pointed out that playing against a team of Egypt's caliber requires heightened focus, saying, "The match against Egypt is very difficult. They have high capabilities and extensive experience in dealing with such tournaments, and this increases our morale and enthusiasm to give our best. God willing, the result will be in our favor." Al-Ghasani added a crucial point reflecting the depth of the Egyptian squad, emphasizing that "there is no difference between Egypt's first team and second team," referring to the abundance of talent in Egyptian football and the strength of the domestic league, which supplies the national team with outstanding players.
Addressing the initial mistakes and qualification calculations
Al-Ghasani addressed the UAE's opening match loss to Jordan, 2-1, explaining that while the result fell short of the team's ambitions, it served as motivation to make amends. He said, "We didn't want the result in the first match, but we must learn from our mistakes and focus completely against Egypt." This match is of paramount importance in the group standings, as the UAE seeks to revive its qualification hopes, while Egypt is looking for its first win after drawing 1-1 with Kuwait. This makes the encounter a "final before the final," a do-or-die situation for both teams.
Regional context and quality of organization
In a related context, Al-Ghasani praised Qatar's organization of the tournament, noting that the State of Qatar has consistently delivered sporting events according to the highest international standards, saying, "Qatar has accustomed us to its outstanding tournament organization." The Arab Cup is one of the most important sporting events in the region, bringing together Arab nations in competitions that are always characterized by fierce rivalry and excitement, and providing an ideal opportunity for players to showcase their abilities on the international stage.
It is worth noting that the match will take place tomorrow, Saturday, and all eyes are on this classic encounter that brings together the advanced Gulf football school and the prestigious Egyptian school, in a match expected to be full of competitiveness and goals.
