Five-star performance sees Palestine through to 2021 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar

Palestine’s midfielder Tamer Seyam scores a goal past Comoros goalkeeper Moyadh Ousseni during the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup qualifier match in Doha, on June 24, 2021. (AFP)
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Updated 25 June 2021
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Five-star performance sees Palestine through to 2021 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar

  • A 5-1 win over Comoros means Palestine will be in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Jordan later this year

Palestine came from behind to defeat Comoros 5-1 and book their place at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup and will now join Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in a strong Group C at the end of the year, the FIFA official website reported.

The tournament will take place in Qatar from Nov. 27 to Dec. 18.

Comoros started off as the better of the two teams at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha and took the lead after only five minutes thanks to Moussa Djoumoi, who got on the end of Mohammed M’Changama’s pass.

Palestine slowly got into the game and squared the match on 34 minutes when Layth Kharoub tapped in from close range after Comoros keeper Moyadh Ousseni failed to deal with the free kick.

Eight minutes later, Palestine took the lead, Oday Dabbagh producing a moment of individual brilliance with a firm left-footed shot past Ousseni.

Palestine kept the momentum going after the break and extended its lead with the goal of the night as Dabbagh curled in an outside-of-the-boot cross for Tamer Seyam, whose fine run to the near post was rewarded with a glancing header that hit the post and went in to make it 3-1.

The 71st minute saw a repeat of the third goal as Dabbagh again crossed from the right for Seyam to score from close range.

Ten minutes later, Islam Batran took advantage of some poor defending before scoring Palestine’s fifth and confirming their spot at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup later this year.


South Africa do not fear Salah or Marmoush, coach Broos says

Updated 25 December 2025
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South Africa do not fear Salah or Marmoush, coach Broos says

  • South Africa’s Belgian coach said he will not use a special approach to contain Salah or Marmoush
  • “We are focused on no one. The most important thing is ⁠the team,” Bross said

RABAT: Coach Hugo Broos said South Africa do not fear Egypt’s Premier League contingent, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, ahead of their Group B clash in the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.
Manchester City forward Marmoush scored the equalizer against Zimbabwe, before a late strike from Liverpool’s Salah secured a 2-1 win in their opening game in Morocco on Monday.
South Africa beat Angola by the ⁠same score in their Group B opener thanks to Lyle Foster’s screamer.
South Africa’s Belgian coach said he will not use a special approach to contain Salah or Marmoush.
“We are focused on no one. The most important thing is ⁠the team,” Bross, who led Cameroon to the 2017 edition title over Egypt, told a press conference on Thursday.
“We all know how good Salah is, we all know how good Marmoush is and we all know how good Trezeguet is and other players. They are such a good team. Why should we focus on one player? We ⁠have to be prepared to beat the team.”
The last meeting between the two sides in AFCON ended in South Africa’s favor, after they beat the hosts of the 2019 edition 1-0 in the Round of 16.
“We have to put Egypt in difficult (situations) and you can only do that when you use your quality and the players you normally use,” added Broos.