FOOTBALL – Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic has set a bold target for the kingdom’s senior men’s football national team in the Fifa Arab Cup 2025, stating yesterday that they aim “to show we are the best in the Arab world”.
The Croatian tactician was speaking during a Press conference held in Doha, Qatar ahead of their one-off qualifying match tomorrow against Djibouti.
The game is set to take place at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital, and it is slated for a 4pm kick-off.
The winners will earn their berth in the group stage of this year’s Fifa Arab Cup.
While the Bahrainis are completely focused on first securing their place in the tournament proper, Talajic also expressed greater ambitions.
“For us, we have come here to show that we were winners of the last Gulf Cup – we are the best in the Gulf, and now we want to show we are the best in the Arab world,” said Talajic.
“This game against Djibouti, we have been waiting for this. Inshaallah, we will play a good game and qualify for the tournament, and after that we will see – step by step, we will see you in the final.”
Bahrain clinched the title in the 26th Gulf Cup in January this year, but since then have had a disappointing string of results.
They lost all four of their remaining fixtures in Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifying – ending their dreams of claiming an historic first-ever berth in the expanded tournament – and have also lost four of their five friendly games held since September.
Their most recent setback was a 1-2 defeat against Somalia last week in a tune-up held as part of both teams’ preparations for their respective qualifiers tomorrow.
Despite this disheartening spell, Talajic voiced his unwavering confidence in Bahrain’s team.
“These are my boys, my sons – I trust in them very much and I know the quality they have,” said Talajic.
“This is not just me talking to motivate them. This is just to say that we are coming from Bahrain, from our beautiful kingdom, and we will play the best we can for our people and for our kingdom. Inshaallah, we will make a surprise for everyone here.”
“Every single game we play for our kingdom is important for us. I hope all Bahrainis will be together like we are always together. This Arab Cup is for our kingdom, for our people.”
“We will make you proud, believe me.”
Talajic thanked the Qatar Football Association and Fifa for the warm hospitality the national team have received since arriving in Doha for their upcoming game.
Should the Bahrainis book their seat in this year’s Fifa Arab Cup, they will be in Group D where they will join defending champions Algeria, Iraq, and either Lebanon or Sudan.
Group A features Qatar, Tunisia, Syria or South Sudan, and Palestine or Libya; Group B is composed of Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman or Somalia, and Yemen or Comoros; and Group C includes the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and either Kuwait or Mauritania.
Also yesterday ahead of their clash with Djibouti, Bahrain’s national team manager Mahmood Reyadh, media manager Mohammed Abdulghaffar, and other officials participated in the pre-game technical meeting, where the teams’ kits for the contest were presented and approved.
This year’s Fifa Arab Cup will be its 11th edition and second under its current format organised by Fifa.
The last edition in 2021, also held in Doha, saw the Algerians claim the title after defeating Tunisia 2-0 after extra-time.
Bahrain bowed out in the preliminary stage, after finishing their Group A campaign with just one point from three matches.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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