FOOTBALL – Bahrain's under-17 men’s football national team scored a 2-0 victory over their counterparts from Singapore in a friendly match played at home.
Star striker Hussain Zuhair, who has caught the eye of senior men’s football national team head coach Dragan Talajic, posted an impressive brace in the contest, played at Bahrain Football Association pitches in Riffa.
The game was part of a series of tune-ups played by the Bahrainis in preparation for their upcoming competitions, which include the AGCFF U17 Gulf Cup 2025 later this month and the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in November.
Bahrain, coached by Ugo Klingor from Croatia, are one of eight teams in the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) tournament, set to be held in Doha, Qatar, from September 20 to October 2.
The kingdom’s side are set to compete in Group B of the tournament’s preliminary round alongside Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. Group A features the UAE, Oman, Yemen, and hosts Qatar.
The AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, meanwhile, are scheduled for November 22 to 30.
Bahrain have been drawn in Group A, which is to be held in China, alongside the hosts, Bangladesh, Brunei, Timor-Leste, and Sri Lanka.
The 38-nation field has been divided into seven groups – each to be held at a centralised location.
The nationals will be vying for just seven available places for the tournament proper, to be held from May 7 to 24 in Saudi Arabia next year.
Group B is composed of Yemen, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, Pakistan, and hosts Kyrgyzstan; Group C includes Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Northern Mariana Islands, Macau, and hosts Vietnam; Group D comprises Iran, Palestine, Chinese Taipei, Lebanon, and hosts India; Group E is composed of Australia, Iraq, Philippines, Bhutan, and hosts Jordan; Group F features Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Maldives, and hosts Thailand; and Group G includes Oman, Afghanistan, Syria, Nepal, and hosts Myanmar.
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