Yemen Monitor / Special Report:
Yemen national football team secured qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals after defeating Lebanon 2–0 in a match held at Hamad Al-Kabeer Stadium in Doha, Qatar, as part of the final round of the qualifiers.
Yemen took the lead in the 62nd minute through Nasser Mohammedoh. The same player sealed the victory with a second goal in the 90th minute, clinching the match and earning the “Red Yemen” team a place in the continental tournament.
The match was a decisive encounter in Group E, played in front of a large and enthusiastic Yemeni crowd at Hamad Al-Kabeer Stadium. The game determined which team would advance to the finals, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia early next year.
The match had originally been scheduled to take place in Doha in March but was postponed due to security concerns in the region amid the repercussions of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as the widespread disruptions that affected air traffic across several Middle Eastern countries.
With this qualification, Yemen continues its presence on the continental stage following its first appearance in the 2019 tournament in the United Arab Emirates. This marks the nation’s second-ever participation in the AFC Asian Cup finals.
Yemen started the match with Mohammed Aman in goal. The defense consisted of Haroon Al-Zubaidi, Nader Sahel, Rami Al-Wasmani, and Radwan Al-Haishi. In midfield were Osama Anbar, Omar Golan, team captain Abdulwasea Al-Matari, and Nasser Mohammedoh. The attack was led by Omar Al-Dahi and Abdulmajeed Sabarah. The substitutes’ bench included several players, most notably Emad Al-Judaimah, Adel Abbas, and Nawaf Abdullah.
