KUWAIT CITY, Nov 28: Al Arabi's Bosnian coach, Darko Nesterovic, expressed disappointment with the performance of Nigerian professional players Anayo Iweala and Senegal's Mamadou Thiam in the recent match against Al-Zawraa of Iraq during the fifth round of the AFC Cup's third group competitions.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to Al-Arabi's elimination from the qualification race with only 5 points, placing them in third position, 3 points behind Al-Zawraa. Bahraini side Al-Riffa secured qualification for the group with 13 points after defeating Najem 6-1 in the latest match.

In the post-match press conference, Darko stated, "I removed Iwala and Thiam due to their unconvincing performance in the first half. I brought in the Moroccan Hamza Khaba, who is dealing with an injury."

Considering the upcoming winter transfer period in January, Darko indicated that Al-Arabi's professional players might face scrutiny, especially given the subpar performances of Iwala and Thiam, the decline in Sabar's form, and the challenges faced by Algerian player Sofiane Bouchard.

Highlighting the team's injury concerns and the unpreparedness of several players, Darko emphasized the need for more time to prepare and showcase a distinct performance. He commended the players for their double effort under the current circumstances, acknowledging the notable performances of Bandar Al Salama and Hamza Khaba despite challenges.

Darko stated that the team, despite having a high spirit, faced unfavorable circumstances. He emphasized that completing the ranks would enable the team to return to delivering strong performances.

On the other side, Al-Zawraa's coach, Egyptian Hossam El-Badry, expressed surprise at the absence of the VAR technique, emphasizing that the Federation Cup Championship deserved this advantage due to the intensity of the matches. He noted that his team's chances of advancing to the tournament's semi-finals significantly increased, pointing out that the victory over Bahrain's Riffa in the last match accomplished the goal of advancement.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff