Silent Resolve: Al-Aqidi Keeps Quiet as Queiroz Sparks Fury After Arab Cup Clash
2 December 2025
Match context
Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi kept quiet on the remarks made by Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, Oman’s boss, after their meeting in the 2025 Arab Cup.
Al-Aqidi led the Saudi side to a 2-1 victory over Oman on Tuesday, at Education City Stadium in Doha, in the group stage opener of the Arab Cup.
After the match, Queiroz was visibly animated, criticizing Jordanian referee Adham Makhdama in televised comments for not sending off Nawaf Boushal, Saudi Arabia’s full-back, minutes from the end.
When asked about the issue, Al-Aqidi replied: “I did not hear Carlos Queiroz’s comments after the game, but such things are natural in football, and there’s no need to comment.”
Regarding the game, the Saudi goalkeeper added: “These are three important points for us in the group stage, thank God we won, and we will take the tournament one game at a time—the coming matches will be better.”
He also said: “I’m a Saudi national-team player, so it’s natural to motivate my teammates before kickoff, and any other player would have done the same.”
He concluded: “Missed opportunities happen in every match; we scored twice, kept a clean sheet, and achieved what mattered—the win.”
Abdulrahman Ashlabood, who came on as a substitute in the second half, told TV: “Congratulations to the Saudi people; better luck to our brothers in Oman.”
He added: “The match was tough early on, but in the second half we managed to control the proceedings.”
The Ittihad ace added: “We had chances we didn’t take, but thankfully we scored the second and won in the end.”
Fiery remarks
After the game, Queiroz appeared in a heated interview with BeIN Sports Qatar, gripping a tablet showing a frame from the match and speaking with visible emotion.
The Portuguese coach told the broadcasters: “You have screens; what happened in the game was not acceptable. How could there be no red card?”
Queiroz was referring to Nawaf Boushal’s challenge on an Oman player in the 83rd minute, which he believed deserved a red card, while referee Makhdama only showed a yellow.
The coach continued to wave the tablet at the post-match press conference, displaying the late challenge.
In the press conference he said: “Unfortunately, you work, and such a referee overlooks and ignores such a moment.”
He added: “The Saudi player deserved to be sent off, and their second goal also deserved a review.”
Saleh Al-Shehri later scored Saudi Arabia’s second in the 77th minute, from a cross by Salem Al-Dosari, with no offside call against either player.
Punchlines
Punchline 1: If football drama were a league, Queiroz would be leading the table—tablet in hand, heart on the pitch.
Punchline 2: If referees wore badges for every bold call, my fantasy team would finally stop crying foul at half-time.
