Tribune News Network
Doha
The Organizing Committee of the second edition of the Qatar-UAE Super Shield on Tuesday announced that preparations are in place to host matches in Doha. Eight teams – 4 each from Qatar and the UAE – will play four matches between January 16-19 in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Ali Al Salat, Head of the Media Department, Qatar Football Association, announced that the tournament tickets will be available starting today at prices of QR 30 and 50 for the first and second categories through the official website of the Qatar Stars League Foundation qsl.qa.
The first match, which bears the name “Challenge Shield”, will be held between Al Rayyan, runner-up of the Qatar Stars League, and Shabab Al Ahli, runner-up of the ADNOC Professional League, on January 16 in Doha at 6 pm at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
The “Super Cup” tournament will see Al Nasr, runner-up of the President’s Cup, meet Qatar SC, runner-up of the Amir Cup, on January 17 in Dubai at Al Maktoum Stadium at 7pm.
The third match - the “Super Shield” and will bring together Al Sadd, the Qatar Stars League title holder, and Al Wasl, the ADNOC Professional League champion, on January 18 in Doha at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at 7pm.
Al Wahda, the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup champion, will meet Al Wakrah, the Qatar Cup champion, for the “Challenge Cup” championship on January 19 in Abu Dhabi at Al Nahyan Stadium at 7pm.
Al Salat explained that preparations are ongoing by the organizing committee in coordination with the UAE Football Association regarding the matches between Al Rayyan and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, and Al Sadd and Al Wasl, and that coordination is underway with the UAE side regarding the attendance of fans at the matches, in addition to opening the registration for issuing media permits, stressing that the participation of 8 teams in the new version after the participation of 4 teams in the inaugural version will achieve great gains on the technical and competitive levels.
Faisal Al Otaibi, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Al Rayyan Club, confirmed that the first team’s preparations are going well following the new technical management after Portuguese Arto Jorge took over the responsibility, succeeding national coach Younis Ali.
Al Otaibi pointed out that the team gained the return of some players after an absence due to injury, and the match against Umm Salal next Friday in the opening of the second half of the Ooredoo Stars League will be the first for the new technical staff, and there are aspirations to reconcile the fans in the coming period and achieve good results.
Al Otaibi stressed his cooperation with the organizing committee regarding the arrangements for the match that will be held at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on January 16, as well as the public attendance and accompanying events that precede the confrontation.
For his part, Turki Al Ali, Executive Director of Al Sadd Club, confirmed that the team’s preparations are going well by playing some friendly matches during the past period.
Al Ali added: “We have previously faced the Emirati team Al Wasl in the current edition of the AFC Champions League for Elite, and facing the same opponent in the Super Cup again is a positive thing for us, and we have great confidence in the technical staff and all the players.”
The first edition of the Qatar-UAE Super Cup was limited to only two matches, as Al Arabi, the Emir Cup champion (2022-2023), hosted Sharjah, the UAE President’s Cup champion, for the Super Cup (2022-2023) at Al Thumama World Cup Stadium, and succeeded in defeating them with a goal without a response scored by its Tunisian player Youssef Msakni, while Al Duhail, the Qatar Stars League champion (2022-2023), lost to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, the ADNOC Professional League champion (2022-2023), with a goal to two goals in the match that brought them together at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai.
