- 13:15
Lebanon’s national football team departed for Doha on Sunday afternoon to begin final preparations ahead of their opening match in the 2025 Arab Cup. Miodrag Radulović’s men will face Sudan on Wednesday, November 26 at 6:00 p.m. (Beirut time) at Al-Gharafa Stadium, in a decisive knockout match that will determine their qualification to the group stage.
This first test is crucial for the Lebanese side, who hope to replicate their performance from the previous edition held in 2021—also in Qatar—where Lebanon defeated Sudan thanks to a late goal. The winner of the match will join a challenging group featuring Algeria, Iraq, and the winner of Bahrain vs Djibouti.
A Reshaped and Determined Squad
Head coach Radulović has had to deal with several key absences, including midfielder Jihad Ayoub, who is injured and replaced by Ali Tneich “Sisi”. Winger Hussein Chakroun also remains unavailable.
On a positive note, two attackers have returned to the squad: Omar Chaaban (AFC Wimbledon, England) and Malek Fakhro (Hallescher FC, Germany), who scored this weekend in the Regionalliga.
The 26-man delegation immediately began training at Doha’s Aspire Academy, one of the world’s most advanced preparation centers.
According to the Lebanese Football Association, the objective is clear: reach the group stage and deliver a performance that reflects the potential of Lebanon’s new generation.
Full Squad List
The squad called up by Miodrag Radulović includes:
Goalkeepers:
Mostafa Matar (Nejmeh), Mehdi Khalil (Ahed), Ali Al-Sabeh (Jwaya)
Defenders:
Hussein Zein (Nejmeh), Khalil Khamis (Nejmeh), Kassem El-Zein (Nejmeh), Mohammad Safwan (Nejmeh), Nassar Nassar (Ansar), Mohammad Al-Hayek (Safaa), Hussein Charafeddine (Safaa), Hassan Farhat (Ahed)
Midfielders:
Mohammad Haidar (Ahed), Ahmad Khair El-Dine (Ansar), Ali Tneich “Sisi” (Ansar), Walid Shour (Jwaya), Khodor Kaddour (South Melbourne FC, Australia), Gabriel Bitar (York United FC, Canada)
Forwards:
Ali Kassas (Nejmeh), Zeineddine Farhan (Jwaya), Hussein Azzeddine (Ahed), Malek Fakhro (Hallescher FC, Germany), Samy Merheg (Deportivo Pereira, Colombia), Omar Chaban (AFC Wimbledon, England)
Gianni Infantino in Lebanon for a Two-Day Visit
At the same time, Lebanon is hosting an important guest: FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who arrived in Beirut on Monday, November 24 for a 48-hour official visit—his first since 2019. He was welcomed at Beirut International Airport by the president of the Lebanese Football Association, Hachem Haidar.
On Tuesday, November 25, Infantino met with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace. The discussions focused on:
- developing Lebanon’s football infrastructure,
- modernizing stadiums to international standards,
- supporting the national teams as they prepare for regional competitions,
- strengthening technical and financial assistance through the FIFA Forward programs.
Infantino’s visit also includes meetings with the Lebanese Federation to discuss Lebanon’s Football Plan 2025-2030 and the development of grassroots football, both men’s and women’s. His stop in Beirut is part of a regional FIFA tour aimed at supporting Middle Eastern federations ahead of upcoming Arab and Asian competitions.
With the national team preparing for a decisive match in Qatar, and the president of FIFA in Beirut for high-level meetings, Lebanese football is experiencing a particularly intense week.
Lebanon is counting on its players to shine on Qatari soil, while its institutions hope to build on Infantino’s visit to strengthen and modernize the country’s football landscape.
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