After the conclusion of the FIFA Arab Cup™ group stage, just eight nations remain in contention for the title. Through an exhilarating week-and-a-half of action there have already been 61 goals, close to one million fans in attendance and a host of standout individual and collective performances.
Reflecting on an exceptional start to the regional showpiece, FIFA spotlights half a dozen players who have shone during the first phase of the competition.
Achref Abada (Algeria)
With the likes of Redouane Berkane, the ageless Yacine Brahimi and Adil Boulbina all impressing going forward Algeria have dazzled in attack. They been quietly just as good at the other end of the pitch, conceding just once, and much of that is down to central defender Abada. The 26-year-old has never played outside of his homeland but has starred at the Arab Cup with some spectacular clearances, perfectly-timed tackles and crisp distribution.
Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia)
The Saudi sensation has starred again during the regional showpiece with his trademark dribbling, passing and explosive burst of pace all on full display in Qatar. Whenever the Green Falcons have needed a player to raise the tempo or create chances they have, as they always do, looked to the veteran winger.
Even though he was rested from the final fixture, with the team already qualified for the knockouts, his return of two assists in his nation’s opening encounter and then a further two assists plus a goal in their second means he’s impossible to leave off this list.
Karim El Berkaoui (Morocco)
One of the players handed a chance to impress in the absence of a string of regulars, 30-year-old El Berkaoui has certainly done that. Powerful, explosive and deadly in front of goal, the versatile attacker is often deployed centrally at club level but has found a home on the right wing in Morocco’s 4-2-3-1 set-up at the Arab Cup. With goals in both his nation’s first and third outings, he’s also provided valuable returns for an Atlas Lions outfit that are through to the quarter-finals for the second straight edition.
Hamed Hamdan (Palestine)
Palestine have been one of the surprise stories of the tournament so far, having secured a quarter-final ticket for the first time. Tactically sound, technically solid and with a fantastic belief and camaraderie within the squad, the Lions of Canaan have been efficient both defensively and going forward.
Knitting things in the centre of the pitch has been the versatile Hamed Hamdan, who has alternated between a central role and a more advanced one in Palestine’s 4-2-3-1. The left-footer has a commanding defensive presence and also the quality to push forward and contribute in the final third, with a delightful long-range goal against Tunisia starting his nation’s comeback in their second group outing.
Omar Khribin (Syria)
Vastly experienced but still as deadly as he has always been, Omar Khribin continues to provide a lethal goal threat for a Syrian side that is in an extraordinary vein of form, having lost just once this calendar year. The 31-year-old’s curling free-kick to win their opener against Tunisia was an outstanding strike. Somehow, he found an even better finish to rescue a point against Qatar three days later with a rising rocket from 25 yards that flew into the top corner of the goal.
Ali Olwan (Jordan)
If you had said that the top scorer through the group stage was a Jordanian, many would have expected that to be Yazan Al Naimat. It’s Ali Olwan, though, who has stolen the limelight so far, scoring from the penalty spot in each of his nation’s first three encounters and generally posing a threat whenever the Nashama have gone forward.
