Photo by Mohammed Morsi Kuwait's goalkeeper lies on the ground as players fight for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 28,  (Agencies): Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi extended his congratulations to the Kuwait national football team, the technical and administrative staff, the Kuwait Football Association, and the devoted fans on the team's well-earned qualification for the semi-finals of the Khaleeji Zain 26.

In a statement to KUNA, Al-Mutairi, who also serves as the Minister of Information and Culture and Chairman of the Khaleeji Zain Supreme Organizing Committee, expressed full confidence in the team, stating, "We are confident in our heroes and sure that they will give their best in the upcoming matches."

Al-Mutairi also congratulated the Omani national team for its qualification and wished the UAE and Qatar teams the best of luck in future tournaments. He praised the unwavering support of Kuwaiti fans, emphasizing their crucial role in the team's success.

The Minister also acknowledged the dedicated efforts of all state agencies in ensuring the successful organization of the tournament.

Kuwait and last year’s finalist Oman are through to the semi-finals of the Khaleeji Zain 26  following a dramatic night of action that saw Qatar and the much-fancied UAE eliminated.

With both matches kicking off simultaneously and all four teams still in with a chance to qualify, it was nail-biting stuff for the 57,742 fans packed into the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.

But they were celebrating following a 1-1 draw with Qatar that saw Kuwait top the group with five points alongside Oman who will join it in the last four after a 1-1 draw with its neighbor, UAE, on the other side of the city.

It was Qatar who thought it had opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Yusuf Abdurisag headed in from a corner, but the referee blew for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Kuwait’s first opportunity to take the lead came on 62 minutes when Mohammad Daham burst through the Qatari defense but saw his low shot come back off the post. And then just a minute later, the same player saw another effort hit the same spot on the upright.

At the other end, substitute Mohammed Muntari thought he had finally broken the deadlock for Qatar but his effort was ruled out by a late flag for offside.

But it was Daham who finally got his deserved goal to send the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium into raptures. A free-kick was awarded on the edge of the box for handball and the striker bent it past the wall into the far corner.

There was more drama in the 77th minute when the referee was sent to the television to check a VAR call on a penalty for Qatar, but after a long deliberation, he turned it down.

Kuwait faced a nervous final couple of minutes when Muntari headed home for Qatar to make it 1-1, but The Blues held on for a memorable, and deserved, point to go through.

Meanwhile, at the Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium, the UAE took the lead in the 20th minute through Musen Al-Ghassani. But Oman pulled level 11 minutes from time through winger Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri for the all-important point to advance.