- 11
- Mar
- 2025
Lebanon begins the final sprint towards the 2027 Asian Cup. With the return of expatriates and the arrival of a giant in defense, the national team wants to impose its law on the field. The upcoming matches will determine if Radulović's men will succeed during the qualifiers.
Determined to secure its ticket for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon begins the third round of qualifications with the aim of dominating Group B, which also includes Yemen, Bhutan and Brunei Darussalam. The campaign starts with a trip to Brunei on March 25, followed by a friendly match on March 20 against East Timor, whose style of play is similar to that of their Asian opponent.
After giving new faces a chance during the friendlies last December, it's now time for seriousness for Lebanon's coach, Miodrag Radulović. For this crucial round, experience will be an essential asset. In this context, the team welcomes back six expatriates, who will strengthen the squad and bring a valuable dose of experience.
Back to Basics and the Arrival of Budib
The list of convocations marks an important step, with the return of six professionals who were absent from previous matches. Injuries also played a role, with the call-up of Chaker Wehbe, Ahed’s goalkeeper, who replaces the injured Mehdi Khalil. But the main attraction remains the arrival of Pedro Budib, a 20-year-old defender, born in Mexico and carrying the Mexican version of the Lebanese surname “Bou Dib.”
Trained in the clubs of Puebla, León and recently Pachuca, Budib is a 1.93-meter defensive rock, with a physique built for aerial combat. His imposing presence and ability to dominate duels make him a valuable addition to a Lebanese defense that lacked solidity. After more than a year of observations by Radulović and after completing the process to obtain the Lebanese nationality, Budib is now ready to defend Lebanon.
The Complete List of Convocations
Here are the players called up for this challenge:
• Goalkeepers: Moustapha Matar (Safa), Ali Sabbah (free agent), Chaker Wehbe (Ahed).
• Defenders: Kassem Zein and Mohammad Safwan (Nejmeh), Khalil Khamis, Hussein Zein, Mohammad Hayek (Safa), Nassar Nassar (Ansar), Pedro Budib (Pachuca, Mexico).
• Midfielders: Mohammad Haidar (Ahed), Ali Tneich and Ahmad Kheireddine (Ansar), Jihad Ayoub (Safa), Hassan Sarur (Hudood, Iraq), Walid Chour (Brisbane Roar, Australia), Majd Osman (Persik Kediri, Indonesia), Hassan Kourani (Shabab, Oman).
• Forwards: Zein El Abidine Farhan (Ahed), Ali Kassas (Safa), Karim Darwich (Duhok, Iraq), Sami Merhej (Deportivo Pereira, Colombia), Omar Chaaban (AFC Wimbledon, England), Hussein Chakroun (Hannover, Germany), Malek Fakhro (Duisburg, Germany).
The Challenge Begins
The return of expatriates, the emergence of new talents and the rise of an ambitious generation provide good reasons to be optimistic. However, as always in football, intentions must be realized on the field. The first test against Brunei will be revealing: Will Lebanon manage to impose its status and prove it can succeed in the qualifiers for the Asian Cup?
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