By Staff Reporter
DOHA: Qatar’s senior men’s basketball team will look to strengthen its position at the top of Group D when it hosts Saudi Arabia on Monday at 7pm at Al Gharafa Sports Hall in a rescheduled second-window fixture of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
The Gulf showdown carries major significance for both teams, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon locked on five points each after recording two wins and one defeat. India sits fourth in the group, making Group D one of the most competitive sections in the Asian qualifying campaign.
Although Qatar has already secured a place in the second round as hosts of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, head coach Hakan Demir has stressed the importance of maintaining the team’s momentum, improving performances and strengthening squad chemistry ahead of the third qualifying window.
For Saudi Arabia, the stakes are equally high. Victory in Doha, coupled with a Lebanese win over India, would seal the Kingdom’s place in the next phase of the qualifiers, adding further intensity to tonight’s encounter.
Qatar enters the contest on the back of an extensive preparation programme that included a training camp in Antalya, Türkiye, where the team focused on physical conditioning and tactical development. The camp concluded with two friendly matches against Tunisia, providing the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess player readiness before the return to competitive action.
The hosts will also draw confidence from their encouraging performances in the qualifiers so far. After opening their campaign with a narrow 75-74 home defeat to Lebanon, Qatar bounced back with a memorable 86-83 victory over the Cedars in Beirut before recording a convincing 99-73 win against India to underline the team’s steady progress.
Following today’s match, Qatar will continue its campaign in the third qualifying window with an away fixture against India in Ahmedabad on July 2 before travelling to Jeddah to face Saudi Arabia again on July 5 in what could prove decisive in determining the final Group D standings ahead of the second round.
The Qatari delegation is headed by Qatar Basketball Federation Secretary-General and National Teams Director Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari. Team Manager Jassim Ibrahim Ashkanani and Assistant Manager Nabil Jumaa accompany the squad.
Demir is supported by a coaching staff comprising first assistant Cengiz Karadag, second assistant Marius Mijemec, third assistant Abdou Sow and strength and conditioning coach Mohamed Vural.
The medical team includes Dr Adel Harmiya, physiotherapist Dr Adel Salim and massage therapist Nicacio Sagaino.
Qatar’s 12-man squad consists of Abdulrahman Saad, Mostafa Foda, Omar Saad, Zeineddine Badr, Mohamed Hashem, Mostafa Nado, Babacar Dieng, Deng Deng (Osman), Aladji Bobo Magassa, Alen Hadzibegovic, Donte Grantham and Mahmoud Darwish.
