Mahdi Ali’s men can buckle up as UAE gets tough draw for Gulf Cup

The defending champions will face 10-time champions Kuwait, the 2013 runners-up Iraq and 2009 champions Oman for the two semi-final spots from Group B, reports Ahmed Rizvi.

Mahdi Ali's UAE team have been placed in a tough Group A. Pawan Singh / The National

Defending champions UAE will face three tough battles to get to the knockout stages of November’s Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia after being drawn in the tougher of the two groups last night.

Mahdi Ali’s men will face 10-time champions Kuwait (No 107 in the Fifa rankings), the 2013 runners-up Iraq (No 89) and 2009 champions Oman (No 69) for the two semi-final spots from Group B, while hosts Saudi Arabia (No 78) should have an easier time in Group A, which includes Qatar (No 86), Bahrain (No 105) and minnows Yemen (No 180).

Yemen have been taking part in the Gulf Cup since 2003, but have yet to win a match. They have contested six editions, played 21 matches and lost 18.

“We know that the draw in a tournament like the Gulf Cup means little,” said Mutrif Al Shamsi, the manager of the UAE national team, who was in Riyadh for the draw ceremony along with the coach Mahdi Ali. “We have seven teams who are virtually at the same level.

“So we just need to focus on our preparations and make sure we are ready. We are the defending champions and, like all the other teams, we will be doing our best to win the title.”

The Gulf Cup will be held in ­Riyadh from November 13-26 and the UAE will play their opening group match on ­November 14, followed by the second on November 17 and the third on November 20.

The two semi-finals are scheduled for November 23, while the third-place play-off will take place a day before the November 26 final.

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