DUBAI: Four World Cup qualifications. An Africa Cup of Nations. And a Gulf Cup.
Beyond the facts and figures, there were many subplots, heroic underdog tales and major failures; joy and despair that will live long in the memory. Middle East and Arab international football packed a lot into 2017.
January saw the Africa Cup of Nations take place in Gabon with Egypt beginning what ended up being a historic year. Led by the brilliant Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs reached the final and were half an hour away from being crowned kings of Africa for a record eighth time before Cameroon came roaring back to complete a 2-1 win in the dying minutes.
There was disappointment for Morocco and Tunisia, who both departed the competition at the quarter-final stage. But the end of the year would hold far better news for them, as it would for Egypt.
While there were no CAF World Cup qualifiers taking place in the first half of the year, a clearer picture of who would head to Russia 2018 was taking shape in Asia.
In AFC Group A, Syria beat Uzbekistan in March with an injury time goal by Omar Khribin, something they would make a habit of doing as the campaign progressed.
In Group B, two defeats for the UAE in the matter of five days by Japan and Australia all but ended their World Cup hopes. But Saudi Arabia, despite a dramatic 3-2 loss in Adelaide at the start June, were still in with a fighting chance.
Summer came and went with no major senior international competitions, though qualification campaigns for Russia 2018 were hotting up in Asia and Africa as the new football season kicked off.
The UAE almost spoilt the party for Saudi Arabia with a 2-1 comeback win at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in August. But Bert Van Marwijk’s team would not be denied, and a glorious 1-0 victory against the visiting Japanese side a few days later saw the Kingdom qualify to their first World Cup since Germany 2006.
The joy of reaching the finals has been somewhat tempered by managerial upheaval that first saw the dismissal of Van Marwijk, the appointment (and then firing) of Edgardo Bauza, and finally confirmation of Juan Antonio Pizzi as the man to take Saudi forward. It remains to be seen how much the disruptions will affect the team’s performances in Russia.
But it was in Group A that one of world football’s stories of the year was developing. War-ravaged Syria had slowly crept into contention with a 93-minute equalizer against China in June, and followed that up with a 3-1 win over a disappointing Qatar in Malaysia at the end of August.
In an astonishing story, having taken the lead against Iran in their final match, Syria were at one point in pole position for automatic qualification to the World Cup. In the end they needed another injury time equalizer, by Omar Al Somah, to secure third place in the group and a play-off against counterparts Australia from Group B.
A 1-1 draw in the first leg in Malaysia left the Socceroos strong favorites before the return match in Sydney, but yet again a depleted Syria defied expectation and logic by taking the lead, and despite having a player sent off, taking the match into extra time.
Tim Cahill’s second goal of the match looked to have settled the tie for the home team, but there was still time for one more incredible piece of drama. Al Somah’s 120th minute free-kick heartbreakingly struck the post to deny Syria a dream inter-continental play-off against Honduras.
Meanwhile in the African qualifiers, three Arab nations were beginning to see the finish line.
Algeria, who had performed admirably at the last World Cup, were a huge disappointment. But Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia all qualified with varying degrees of difficulty and drama.
In October, Egypt confirmed qualification with 2-1 win over Congo at a raucous Borg El Arab in Alexandria, Salah scoring a 95th minute winner. Unconfined joy was mixed with relief that Hector Cuper’s men did not need any points from a tough final fixture away to Ghana.
Tunisia and Morocco needed an extra month to secure their places in Russia.
Nabil Maaloul had taken over as coach of Tunisia from the Pole Henryk Kasperczak and immediately set about stabilizing a previously faltering team. In the end, qualification went down to the wire but a 0-0 draw against a gallant Libya in the final qualifier was enough to see them back at the World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
On paper, Morocco’s task looked even tougher as they traveled to face a strong Ivory Coast needing at least a draw to reach the finals. There was no need to worry, however, as Herve Renard’s team produced a thoroughly professional 2-0 win to return to football’s grandest stage after an absence of 20 years.
Russia 2018 will be the first World Cup with four Arab nations, and history would be made should more than one of them make the knockout stages.
Finally in December, there was even time to squeeze a hastily arranged, and still ongoing 23rd Gulf Cup of Nations in Kuwait. The tournament will mostly be remembered as a welcome return to the international stage for the host nation after having a FIFA ban lifted earlier in the month.
Saudi, with the World Cup in mind, sent a B-squad meaning UAE, led by Omar Abdulrahman, will fancy their changes of a third title.
For most football fans though, eyes are already turning to a 2018 and a summer of football in Russia.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR — OMAR KHRIBIN
While Mohamed Salah might for many be the Arab world’s leading player for his sensational performances for Liverpool, Omar Khribin gets the vote for his heroics on these shores. The Al-Hilal forward played a leading role in his club’s Saudi league title win and their subsequent march to the final of the 2017 AFC Champions League. Though they lost to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the two-legged final, Khribin finished as the competition’s top scorer with 10 goals and days later was chosen as Asian Footballer of the Year. Above all he was one of the leaders of the Syrian team that almost caused the upset to end all upsets by reaching the World Cup. The width of the post in the last minute of extra time against Australia denied Khribin and his countrymen a dream playoff against Honduras.
TEAM OF YEAR — EGYPT
Egypt get the nod for an increasingly settled and formidable team comprised of players plying their trade in some of the world’s best leagues. Salah has become the de facto leader of the team, his goals driving Egypt to Russia 2018, while his 20 strikes for Liverpool so far this season has made him arguably the highest profile Arab player of all time. But he is not alone, with Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom) and Ramdan Sobhi (Stoke City) all excelling in the Premier League; Ahmed ElMohamady (Aston Villa) and Sam Mursi (Wigan) plying their trade in English football league; the likes of Trezeguet (Kasimpasa), Ahmed Hassan (Braga) across Europe; Shikabala, Kahraba and Esaam El Hadary in Saudi Arabia; and a selection from home favorites Al-Ahly and Zamalek led by goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy. With such strength in depth, qualification to the World Cup was in the end achieved relatively comfortably.
MATCH OF THE YEAR — EGYPT V CONGO
The World Cup qualifier had everything. A hysterical crowd of over 80,000 Egyptians had packed into the imposing Borg El-Arab stadium in Alexandria, expecting to see their heroes to confirm qualification to Russia 2018. Things were going according to plan when Mohamed Salah scored to give the home team the lead on 63 minutes. Egypt had several chances to put the game to bed but their wastefulness meant they were always of in danger being pegged back. Congo’s 88th minute equalizer left the stadium momentarily stunned into silence and the Egyptian players literally on their knees. But inspired by the irrepressible Salah, Egypt rallied and deep into injury time were awarded a penalty which was wildly, and somewhat prematurely, celebrated by the players, coaches and substitutes. But Salah still had to step up. Under unbearable pressure, and with a mighty swing of his left foot, the new Pharaoh of Egypt took his nation back to the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Cue utter joy on the pitch and in the stands.
MOMENT OF THE YEAR — SAUDI ARABIA QUALIFYING
Having got themselves into a strong position to qualify automatically from AFC Group B with two matches to go, the Saudis looked to have thrown it all away with a 2-1 defeat against the UAE in Al-Ain. The home match against Japan became a must-win affair, and unlike with Egypt’s (ultimately) equally dramatic qualifier against Congo, there would be no second chances. Fahad Al-Muwalad’s 63rd-minute strike raised the roof at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, but it was in the closing stages of the match that the tension would reach unbearable levels. Knowing any concession would mean elimination, the Saudis defended for their lives as the already-qualified Japan threw everything at them. They held on — and the scenes of celebration and outpouring of emotion at the final whistle will live long in the memory.
GOAL OF THE YEAR — ALI MABKHOUT V SAUDI ARABIA
It might have all been in vain ultimately but Ali Mabkhout’s goal for the UAE against Saudi Arabia in August’s World Cup qualifier was hugely underrated. Receiving a cross from the right with his back to goal, the Al-Jazira striker plucked the ball out of the air with the deftest of touches and spun 180 degrees in one movement. He then buried a volley past the Saudi goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf for an outrageous UAE equalizer. Ahmed Khalil’s brilliant long-range strike gave the UAE a 2-1 win but it was Saudi Arabia who qualified to Russia 2018, perhaps why Mabkhout’s moment of genius has been so quickly forgotten.
