Five consecutive matches in quick succession without defeat in regulation time. That impressive run sums up Palestine’s campaign at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™, as the Lions of Canaan defied all predictions made of them ahead of the tournament.
Having eliminated Libya in the qualifying round, Palestine topped Group A, ahead of hosts Qatar and Tunisia, both of whom have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. That achievement provided crucial motivation going into their quarter-final match against Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium.
But coach Ihab Abu Jazar’s side had no intention of stopping there, putting in a spirited performance against Saudi Arabia and again avoiding defeat in regulation time. Indeed, Herve Renard’s men needed a late goal in extra-time to reach the semi-finals, with Mohamed Kanno finding the net to move level with Ali Olwan as the tournament’s top scorer on three goals.
This tremendous effort earned Palestine the respect of all teams, with Renard choosing to open his post-match remarks by congratulating them on their work in the tournament and their outstanding efforts across five matches.
Oday Dabbagh was one of the stand-out performers against Saudi Arabia, scoring the equaliser with a composed finish. One of Palestinian football’s leading figures in recent years, he spoke briefly to FIFA after the match about the team’s elimination, saying: “We hope for better days to come for the national team. We hoped to advance, but minor details worked against us. This is football, and a late goal ended our journey.”
Dabbagh showed great courage during the match despite carrying an injury, something he confirmed to FIFA when asked after the game about the bandage seen on his ankle. He then explained the reasons behind the team’s resilience in the face of the tournament’s physical demands, saying: “Our defensive structure is solid, and the work of fitness coach Taha Nouh has been evident in improving our physical conditioning.”
He also made sure to deliver a final message to the Palestinian fans who supported the team throughout the tournament: “I thank the Palestinian supporters for everything you did for us. We wanted to bring you joy, but that’s football.”
Dabbagh’s sentiments were shared by coach Ihab Abu Jazar, who praised the players’ efforts across the competition and congratulated the Saudi team on their progression, saying: “Congratulations to Saudi Arabia. It was a tough match, and we wanted to keep our run going in the tournament. The plan was to stay compact before going in search of a goal, but we were undone by conceding a goal. Despite that setback, the players remained calm and managed to equalise. After that, the match swung back and forth.”
He went on to say: “The key thing is that we’ve built a team with real character, able to stand up to the strongest opponents. We faced three teams that have qualified for the World Cup, so we’re happy with the players’ performances. They gave everything to try to make the Palestinian people proud. We’re satisfied and striving for more.”
