Clash in Doha: Mauritania and Kuwait Gear Up for a High-Stakes Arab Cup Knockout

Arab Cup Playoff Showdown in Doha

Mauritania and Kuwait face off on Tuesday evening at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, kicking off the playoff for the Arab Cup to be staged in Qatar from December 1 to 18.

The winner advances to Group 3, which includes the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan. Egypt will be represented by a second squad while preparations continue for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year.

In a joint press conference, Spanish coach Artiz Lopez of Mauritania and Portuguese coach Helio Sousa of Kuwait acknowledged the difficulty of the match.

Lopez said: "Our aim is to win and reach the group stage of the Arab Cup. We thank Qatar for the excellent organization and hospitality, and I expect the Arab Cup to be a great success."

He added: "We have prepared well for the Kuwait game and hope to pass the preliminary round and reach the group stage. Our ambition is high despite the challenge and the strength of the opponent."

Sousa commented: "We have prepared seriously and rely on our fans to support the players and motivate them to win and reach the group stage."

"The match will be tough because we face a team with a different style from Asian and Gulf football," he noted, "and we have played friendlies with two African teams to adapt to the African style that emphasizes physicality."

The Kuwaiti coach continued: "The opponent also has quality and experienced players that make them formidable on the pitch. We have continued intensive work in this period to rebuild a team capable of presenting our best in this tournament."

"The Arab Cup will be a chance to measure our work so far and to prepare for upcoming commitments, notably the Asia Cup in 2027 in Saudi Arabia," Sousa explained.

Sousa also said the team has used friendly matches to give all players experience ahead of the Arab Cup and that the tournament is a key milestone in preparing for continental competitions.

He expressed confidence in Kuwait’s players: "Everyone is ready for the match against Mauritania, and our ambition is to reach the main group stage of the Arab Cup."

The Portuguese coach addressed Kuwaiti fans: "We know Kuwaiti fans will not hesitate to support their team in this important Arab tournament, and we look forward to their backing against Mauritania to achieve a result that pleases them."

Fawas Ayyad, a Kuwaiti player, said: "Naturally, the match will be difficult because we face opponents with foreign-based players, but we trust our participation in the Arab Cup will bring joy to Kuwaiti football fans."

He added: "Tomorrow’s match is knockout, so the players enter with great ambition and a clear desire to secure qualification. We have confidence in ourselves and will give everything for the team."

Strict Instructions

The two teams closed their preparations with a formal training session at the match venue, in an atmosphere dominated by focus, discipline and seriousness, with final instructions on gameplay and key threats to neutralize.

Sousa has the advantage of familiarity with the stadium and Qatar’s atmosphere from a previous stint coaching in Qatar, and the technical staff believes the excellent pitch quality will help players execute tactical moves, especially during transitions from defense to attack. They also expect the proximity of the stands to lift the players’ fighting spirit, given heavy Kuwait support anticipated in Doha.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s administrative staff imposed strict training camp rules to boost concentration and keep distractions away. Sousa also decided to keep training sessions closed to media and fans, except for the pre-match press conference featuring the coach and captain Fawas Ayyad.

In the meantime, Kuwaiti fans have begun arriving in Qatar to support the team, with possibilities of additional flights if Kuwait advances to the tournament’s knockout rounds.

On the Mauritanian side, attendance is expected to come mainly from the diaspora in Qatar, with a few Arab fans outside the country.

Punchlines to brighten the scoreline: 1) If football were a fashion trend, this match would be the knockout edition of the offside fringe—dramatic, stylish, and occasionally misunderstood. 2) And remember: in football as in life, the ball always finds the net—usually after a few suspenseful rehearsals with the woodwork as the director.