Alkass Digital
Qatar football giants Al Sadd yesterday reached Abha, Saudi Arabia ahead of their opening group stage match of the 2023 King Salman Club Cup, against Morocco's Wydad.
The highly-anticipated encounter kicks off at the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium tomorrow at 4pm.
Both teams have their sights set on securing three crucial points in the early stages of the tournament. The preparations undertaken by Al Sadd and Wydad have underscored the significance of their participation, with star players ready to shine on the field.
In Group B, Al Sadd and Wydad will also be contending with formidable rivals Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia and Ahli Tripoli from Libya, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
Al Sadd have assembled a strong squad of 27 players, with the likes of Saad Al Dosari, Meshaal Barsham, Yousef Al Balushi, Hassan Al Haydos, Guilherme Torres, Pedro Miguel, Ahmed Sayyar, Paulo Otavio, Abdullah Al Yazidi, Mateus Uribe, Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif, Khoukhi Boualem, Salem Al Hajri, Ahmed Al Saadi, Hashim Ali, Amin Hazbawi, Gonzalo Plata, Romain Saiss, Ali Asad, Musaab Khidir, Mustafa Tarek Meshaal, Yousuf Abdurisag, Ahmed Suhail, Mahdi Salem, Tarek Salman, and Mohammed Waad.
The Wolves reached their team hotel in Abha yesterday, and also conducted their first training session later in the evening.
Al Sadd concluded their final training session before departure on Monday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, with the participation of all players. During the session, the coaching staff, led by Portuguese coach Bruno Miguel, focused on physical, technical, and tactical aspects. The club said on their web site that the players appeared in high physical and mental spirits, demonstrating their determination and readiness to enter the King Salman Cup with full force.
The coaching staff expressed their reassurance and optimism, especially with the inclusion of the new duo, Ecuadorian Plata and Moroccan Saiss.
On the other side, Wydad are eager to rebound after facing disappointments in their domestic league and the African Champions League final against Al Ahly of Egypt. Under the guidance of their new coach, Adil Ramzi, the team is focused on finding the right balance, especially with the presence of several young players in their ranks as two of the football giants in the region lock horns in the Group B opener of the 12-team contest.
Al Sadd Squad
Saad Al Dosari, Meshaal Barsham, Yousef Al Balushi, Hassan Al Haydos, Guilherme Torres, Pedro Miguel, Ahmed Sayyar, Paulo Otavio, Abdullah Al Yazidi, Mateus Uribe, Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif, Khoukhi Boualem, Salem Al Hajri, Ahmed Al Saadi, Hashim Ali, Amin Hazbawi, Gonzalo Plata, Romain Saiss, Ali Asad, Musaab Khidir, Mustafa Tarek Meshaal, Yousuf Abdurisag, Ahmed Suhail, Mahdi Salem, Tarek Salman, and Mohammed Waad.
Coach: Bruno Miguel