Montenegrin coach Miodrag Radulović has unveiled the list of players who will represent Lebanon at the Asian Football Cup to be held in Qatar starting January 12.
The squad includes 26 players, a mix of local talent and professionals from abroad. Notably, midfielder Jihad Ayoub, recovering from injury, is included in the squad. Defenders Hussein Zein and Nassar Nassar, initially doubtful due to injuries sustained in the last friendly match won against Jordan 2-1, have been included after thorough examinations.
In addition, striker Omar Shaaban Bugiel will be returning to the squad for the first time since the qualifiers for the last World Cup. The list also includes a number of foreign-based professional players making their comebacks after absences for various reasons.
The Lebanese national team delegation will fly to the Qatari capital, Doha, on Monday for final preparations for the continental competition. “Les Cèdres” will face Saudi Arabia in a friendly on January 4 in preparation for their opening match against hosts and defending champions Qatar on January 12 at the Lusail Stadium, as part of Group A, which also includes China and Tajikistan.
Team line-up:
Goalkeepers: Mehdi Khalil (Jordanian Al-Faisaly), Mustafa Matar (Al-Ahed), Ali Al-Sibai (Al-Nejmeh).
Defenders: Hussein Zein and Nour Mansour (Al-Ahed), Qassem Al-Zein and Maher Sabra (Al-Nejmeh), Hassan Shaito (Al-Safa), Alex Melki and Nassar Nassar (Al-Ansar).
Midfielders: Walid Shour, Hassan Srour, Felix Melki, and Mohammed Haydar (Al-Ahed), Ali Tannish, Yahya Al-Hindi (Al-Ansar), Mohammed Ali Al-Dahhini (Swedish Treleborg), Jihad Ayoub (Indonesian PSM Salman).
Forwards: Hassan Maatouk (Al-Ansar), Bassel Jradi (Bangkok United Thailand), Ali Al-Hajj (Al-Ahed), Hilal Al-Helwe (Al-Burj), Hassan “Soni” Saad (Penang Malaysia), Daniel Lahoud (Atlante Mexico), Gabriel Bitar (Vancouver FC Canada), Omar Shaaban Bugiel (AFC Wimbledon England).
