AFC Asian Cup: Qatar captain hails team spirit as country stands on brink of history, with ref Ma Ning set to make his own
- Victory will see hosts become first team in 20 years to defend title, making them part of an elite group
- Ma will become the first Chinese official to take charge of an Asian Cup final when he leads the sides out on Saturday
Captain Hassan Al Haydos credited the spirit within the Qatar camp for the defending champions’ return to the Asian Cup final on Saturday, as the tournament hosts look to become the first nation to retain the title in 20 years.
Al Haydos will lead his side out against surprise package Jordan at the magnificent Lusail Stadium, scene of Argentina’s World Cup win over France in December 2022, aiming to win the title five years after the nation’s first Asian Cup success in the United Arab Emirates.
The game will be officiated by Ma Ning, with the 44-year-old from Fuxin in Liaoning province becoming the first referee from China to take charge of an Asian Cup final.
Victory would see Qatar emulate the feats of South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Japan to become only the fifth nation to retain the title, with the Japanese the last to do so against China in 2004.
“A month before the tournament no one expected we would reach the final, no one thought we would deliver this performance,” said Al Haydos, whose performances, along with those of Akram Afif, have been key to Qatar’s progress.
“But we’ve been working together and there is trust between the players and the coach, the technical team and the Qatar Football Association. The team has been able to reach this level because of the efforts of the players and the unity between everyone.”
