Palestinian national team defender Mohamed Salah, who lost to Qatar in the round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup held on January 29, 2024, remains alone on the ground after the game. A native of the Gaza Strip, he lost some family members in the Gaza war and has no contact with his surviving family members.
“I’m proud of my champions.” This is what coach Makram Davub said after the Palestinian national football team lost 2-1 to Qatar on January 29, 2024 (local time), the second day of the round of 16 of the ‘2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup’. Qatar is the winner of the last tournament. Palestine won 3-0 against Hong Kong on January 23 in this Asian Cup. This led to the good fortune of being included among the four teams that advanced to the round of 16 among the third-place teams in each group. The first victory in Asian Cup history brought great joy to Palestinians who are at war.
It is a huge pain for players to play without knowing what is happening at home. Defender Mohamed Salah, a native of Gaza, lost his family in the war and has no contact with his surviving family members. While the Palestinian team advanced to the round of 16 in Qatar, the Israeli military intensified its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip. Palestinians are in danger of death due to Israel’s merciless bombing, destruction, hunger, and disease.
Palestinian players are rejoicing after winning the Asian Cup group stage match against Hong Kong on January 23, 2024.
In Doha, the Palestinian team received a warm welcome. Many spectators cheered them on, waving Palestinian flags and traditional scarves (keffiyeh). For the Palestinian players, the round of 16 was more than a game. He believed that he could advance further in the tournament and deliver comforting joy to the people in his hometown suffering from war. After finishing the round of 16, the players told reporters, “Nothing is impossible in soccer. You have to play with everything you can. That is the message we send to the world. “I want to do better next time,” he said.
Photo by Shinhwa Yonhap News/REUTERS, Written by Senior Reporter Park Seung-hwa [email protected]
As the national anthem was played at the official ceremony before the first Asian Cup match against Iran on January 14, the Palestinian national team players linked their shoulders and strengthened their resolve.
Before the preliminary match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 18, all spectators stood up and observed a moment of silence in memory of those sacrificed in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Palestine national team players cross their arms after scoring in an Asian Cup qualifying match against Hong Kong on January 23. It depicts Palestinians detained in Israel wearing handcuffs.
At the Asian Cup in Qatar, spectators are waving Palestinian flags and traditional scarves (keffiyeh) in solidarity.
Palestinian players are celebrating a goal immediately after scoring a goal in an Asian Cup qualifying match against Hong Kong on January 23. The number written in red on the forearm represents the 110th day of the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip.
2024-02-02 10:23:00
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