Yemen’s U-17 national team opened their Gulf Cup campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to hosts Qatar on Sunday evening at Hamad Al-Kabeer Stadium in Doha.
Qatar’s Faisal Saeed scored the lone goal early in the second half, securing his side’s first three points in a group that also includes the UAE and Oman.
Despite the loss, Yemen’s youngsters impressed with their organized play and fighting spirit. They created several clear scoring chances and forced Qatar’s defense into retreat on multiple occasions, keeping the contest finely balanced until the final whistle.
Head coach Samer Fadhl said afterward that the result did not reflect the team’s performance, stressing that the tournament is an important opportunity for the players to gain experience and sharpen their skills ahead of upcoming continental competitions. Qatar coach Álvaro, for his part, praised Yemen’s fighting spirit, describing them as “a tough opponent.”
The tournament runs through October 3 with eight teams split into two groups, as part of Gulf federations’ efforts to provide early competitive exposure for their rising generations.
