Iraq
Iraq's midfielder Ibrahim Bayesh celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final match against Qatar at the Basra International Stadium on January 16, 2023. Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi national football team reached their first Gulf Cup final since 2013, following a 2-1 victory over Qatar in a packed Basra stadium.
A sold-out Basra International Stadium hosted the first semi-finals match of the 25th Gulf Cup between Iraq and Qatar. 22-year-old Ibrahim Bayesh opened the scoring for the Iraqi team in the 19th minute mark, continuing his impressive run throughout the tournament. Qatar’s Amro Surag soon equalized the score less than 10 minutes later, but a defensive error from the Qatari team at the 43th minute allowed Aymen Hussein to score Iraq’s second goal.
The scoreline would remain at 2-1 in favor of the Lions of Mesopotamia until the final whistle of the game. Iraq will now await the winner of Oman vs Bahrain later in the evening to determine the second side of the Gulf Cup Final, which will take place on Thursday.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi congratulated the Iraqi team on the victory, wishing them luck in the final of the prestigious tournament.
Iraq last reached the final of the Gulf Cup in its 21st edition in 2013, where they lost 2-1 to United Arab Emirates after extra-time.
The tournament, held in Iraq’s southern city of Basra, began earlier this month with eight teams from the Gulf taking part in the prestigious competition. The only time Iraq hosted the Gulf Cup was in 1979, from which the Iraqi team emerged victorious.
Despite the country’s constant state of political instability and disunity, the Iraqi population’s special connection to the sport of football has managed to unify the people at times of major regional and international tournaments, coming to the support of the national team regardless of their humble results.
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