Crying on the Field: Syria’s Star Breaks Down as Morocco Edges Arab Cup Quarterfinals

Key moments

Syria’s rising star Zakariya Hanan burst into tears after a 1-0 loss to Morocco in the Arab Cup 2025 quarterfinals, played Thursday night at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

The Syrian side produced a spirited display but could not prevent Morocco’s late winner, with Walid Azaro finding the net in the 79th minute.

Coach and player reactions

Spanish coach Jose Lana, who oversees Syria, said after the final whistle that his players did their best to shut spaces and push for victory.

Football, he noted, often comes down to tiny details, and Syria fulfilled their tasks while they thanked the players for their effort.

Ilyas Hadaiya, Syria’s goalkeeper, sent a message to fans saying the team tried to please them, but that is football and results swing with the winds.

He added that they gave everything and vowed to keep pushing to honor Syrian football.

And for the fans, the moment was heartbreak with a wink—even in defeat, the beautiful game still serves up a punchline. Punchline: if tears counted as goals, Zakariya would lead the charts. Punchline 2: the trophy shelf still has room for a comeback story next season.