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Iraqi national football team players lift the trophy as they celebrate at the stadium in Basra. AP
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Iraqi football fans wave their national flag as they celebrate the team's victory against Oman in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region. AFP
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Iraq defeated Oman 3-2 to lift the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup on Thursday. Reuters
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Thousands of fans took to the streets after the match, waiving the Iraqi flag and dancing. AFP
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Outside the stadium and in Baghdad, fireworks lit up the night sky. AP
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The eight-team tournament kicked off on January 6. AP
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It brought together teams from Iraq, Yemen and the six GCC states — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. AP
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Iraq was hosting the biennial regional competition for the first time in more than four decades. AP
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A youth waves an Iraqi flag while sitting on top of a moving vehicle in Baghdad during celebrations. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MHCFQF3FVFM7SQSL6LICGBY2SI.jpg?smart=true&auth=46f8fa25733145fb6604a237e4fa119b2bc6133b2287d3b9fb4918c56fc1a8f6&width=400&height=225)
Iraq fans cheer their team on as they watch the match. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UIHI62TXBDYFJMXMKDVJXXLWGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=16c032a3c2822c89b4b6e910f62668891b8a30440dd09bf4f37f3b9402300ed5&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi national football team players lift the trophy as they celebrate at the stadium in Basra. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NXXBEWDAFUBGLKURUBPFA4K26I.jpg?smart=true&auth=2341c63ff6dc586a64dc85e023bdbd826da5ed53a43d6fce770acb5c2d19464e&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi football fans wave their national flag as they celebrate the team's victory against Oman in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KKN37YUYQFM64DICI25KRZZDAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a6c5cc26e20daf8945b94383ec1fe364d07322eb51c69340e1920ddd9d53b8bd&width=400&height=225)
Iraq defeated Oman 3-2 to lift the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup on Thursday. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JPI3EEGPLKWWRDERRSLY7FPRTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=19d2be6bba18a75429089b4bfc85ba4dd40df6605bd7cc04f0d7459562b1f9da&width=400&height=225)
Thousands of fans took to the streets after the match, waiving the Iraqi flag and dancing. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P735DPVR5DBACHJ5DWP76ZVHVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=21204064c8561f67860b884f560c882c027e0e8f036bb46c1e18cbdd0fce9867&width=400&height=225)
Outside the stadium and in Baghdad, fireworks lit up the night sky. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63L7KLVTVZAKJ6ZXYXYICFPS3U.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c4c9a6e608444835e5b04a3eb14654ffca35ff07c7bd42589063b9e0015c1e2&width=400&height=225)
The eight-team tournament kicked off on January 6. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ARJPU5D3PV6YOKWCHA2WHK5J4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=558009d9fcb452b95a04ef74501bd575cf16029e2b6d83ee43f88d70e8cc0e4b&width=400&height=225)
It brought together teams from Iraq, Yemen and the six GCC states — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LJK3TOIQCFAPBKSWRC7WOMC3TI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cbd8e85d855d5e4e4262b81e6c8dc78c51ab5def39fb108dcb1aa1ba26f919d3&width=400&height=225)
Iraq was hosting the biennial regional competition for the first time in more than four decades. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJ74XHHOCUQXBCNOYKNF3OKXQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f49c18c109d342df2631279d3d55d71b08f156635d71fd6a1d4b90296c183c58&width=400&height=225)
A youth waves an Iraqi flag while sitting on top of a moving vehicle in Baghdad during celebrations. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MHCFQF3FVFM7SQSL6LICGBY2SI.jpg?smart=true&auth=46f8fa25733145fb6604a237e4fa119b2bc6133b2287d3b9fb4918c56fc1a8f6&width=400&height=225)
Iraq fans cheer their team on as they watch the match. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UIHI62TXBDYFJMXMKDVJXXLWGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=16c032a3c2822c89b4b6e910f62668891b8a30440dd09bf4f37f3b9402300ed5&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi national football team players lift the trophy as they celebrate at the stadium in Basra. AP
Iraq's Gulf Cup stars given heroes' welcome in Baghdad after final win
Thousands of Iraqis pack the streets of the capital to greet the Lions of Mesopotamia
![Sinan Mahmoud](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F8561a50f-2395-4f92-8dcd-786210936b5e.png?smart=true&auth=a3d0ba27f1c52b6432f7e57e627ac90b041ee1cc18ff7ff2f3ee904baa247bbd&width=70&height=70)
Sinan Mahmoud
20 January, 2023
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