Noureddine Ould Ali

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 29: Algerian coach Noureddine Ould Ali of the Yemeni national team celebrated a historic achievement, dedicating Yemen's first-ever Gulf Cup victory to the nation and its passionate fans. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ould Ali said, "We succeeded in achieving a historic victory over Bahrain after the group stage, and we dedicate this win to the Yemeni people who have long waited for such a moment in the Gulf championship."

Ould Ali also extended his gratitude to the Yemeni Football Association, the loyal supporters of Yemeni football, and the players who delivered their best performance to secure the win and claim three points. "This precious victory is for everyone who believed in us," he added.

The coach emphasized that Yemen’s participation in the tournament aimed at achieving positive results, saying, "We came here to leave a mark, and we succeeded by achieving this historic first victory."

On the other side, Croatian coach Dragan Talajic of the Bahraini national team acknowledged Yemen’s strong performance, stating, "The Yemeni team played an excellent match and deserved to win."

Talajic explained that Bahrain fielded a team of substitutes for the game, commending their efforts despite the unfavorable result. "Everyone gave their best during the match, but the outcome was not what we hoped for," he said.

Talajic expressed disappointment with the loss, especially given the massive turnout of Bahraini fans who came to support the team. "My goal was to win every match in the tournament," he said, adding, "We now shift focus to preparing for the semi-final clash against Kuwait."