BEIRUT: Lebanon will host Gabon in an international friendly at the Rafik Hariri Stadium in Sidon Tuesday (5:40 p.m. Beirut time), as Theo Bucker prepares his side for their upcoming Asian Cup qualifier with Iran.
Although the team’s World Cup hopes have been dampened considerably, Bucker will be looking for a positive result, with qualification still technically possible for the Cedars, albeit highly unlikely.
The contest will take on added significance after Ahed trio Mahmood al-Ali, Hasan Mezher and Mohammad Hamoud all admitted their involvement in the match-fixing scandal that has rocked the nation.
A vow of silence seems to have been adopted by most clubs regarding the alleged match-fixing, although there are rumors of at least nine further players involved.
Ahed have reprimanded the aforementioned three, docking them a month’s wages while allowing them to continue competition, a source close The Daily Star revealed.
Of Bucker’s overseas contingent, only Youssef Mohammad, Nader Matar, Adnan Haidar and Mehdi Khalil have traveled for the friendly.
A native of Sierra Leone, Khalil is expected to make his debut for Lebanon, with Bucker hopeful that the promising 21-year-old can finally offer a solution to the much-maligned goalkeeping position.
Lebanon, who sit rock bottom of Asia’s World Cup qualification Group A, will travel to Qatar following Tuesday’s match for training camp ahead of their 2015 Asian Cup qualification campaign, after they were drawn in Group B with Iran, Thailand and Kuwait.
The Asian Cup fixtures should act as ideal preparation for the Cedars, who play Uzbekistan on March 3 in a make-or-break World Cup qualifier.
Gabon coach Paulo Duarte is expected to name a weakened side for the tie, electing to rest players prior to their World Cup qualifier with Burkina Faso.
Elsewhere, City Sportive issued a statement regarding their football pitch Monday, with the playing surface deemed untenable for the foreseeable future, following last week’s storm.
“The result of the storm that recently affected the country, and the result of the torrential rain and flooding, has affected the playing surface greatly. Unfortunately we have been unable to prevent the pitchside buildup of water that has almost destroyed the grass,” the statement read.
“Measures will be taken immediately, with new soil and grass laid for the pitch. We regret to inform the public that the previous football schedule released in accordance with the Lebanese Football Federation will now be void.” Read more:
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