JEDDAH, 21 July 2006 — Thirty-two clubs will be taking part in the first round of the 4th Arab Football Championship on Sept. 21, it was announced at a press conference here yesterday.
With the attendance of officials of the Arab Football Federation, Arab Radio and Television (ART), representatives of Arab football clubs and a large number of media representatives, the official draw of the 4th Arab Football Championship took place here in Jeddah.
Defending champions Al Raja from Morocco will play their first match at home against Shabab Tolkaram from Palestine, while Saudi clubs Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al- Nasr will host Olympic from Morocco, Ittihad Monister from Tunis and Mauritania’s Al Iqariah.
Hamad Al-Sunia, manager of Al-Ittihad, was undaunted after his team drew such a tough team as Olympic as their first round opponent saying “we are very satisfied and we are looking for a better season than last year and hope we can repeat our great season in 2004 when we won the 2nd championship against Al Safaqsi from Tunis.”
Ahli manager Wajdi Altaweel concurred with Al-Sunia and said: “I think the draw was good for us and hope we do our best this season and we realize that this year’s championship is going to be tougher than the last three seasons.”
After the conclusion of the draw ceremony, Othman Al-Saad, secretary-general of the Arab Footbal Championship praised the role of Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, president of the Arab Football Championship, in developing Arab football through such tournaments. He said “ here we are gearing up to kick off the 4th Arab Football Championship which proved its success during the last three years. Every year, we aim to bring the best of the Arab football and wish we have another success season,”
Muhee Kamel, general manager of ART, sponsors of Arab Football Championship for last three years in a row, said that ART is ready to put its best facilities and staff to help make this championship a success adding “ we are very proud to be the sponsor of such an important tournament and hope we bring our best to the Arab world.”
The full first round draw is as follows:
Al Zamalek (Egypt) vs. Al Maknas (Morocco); Al-Nasr (Saudi Arabia ) vs. Al Iqariah (Mauritania); Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) vs. Olympic (Morocco); Al-Raja (Morocco) vs. Shabab Tol Karam (Palestine); Al-Ismailia (Egypt) vs. Arbail (Iraq); Al-Ahli (UAE) vs. Al-Kuwait (Kuwait); Inbi (Egypt) vs Al-Jaish (Syria); Molidiah (Algeria) vs. Al-Tilal (Yemen); Al-Mareekh (Sudan) vs. Wifaq Steef (Algeria); Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) vs. Ittihad Monister (Tunis); Alqadisyah (Kuwait) vs. Al-Ansar (Lebanon); Al-Ittihad (Libya) vs. Al-Nahdah (Oman); Al-Ahli (Bahrain) vs. Al-Ahli ( Algeria); Al-Ahli (Qatar) vs. Shabab (Jordan); Al-Faisali (Jordan) vs. AlNasir (Muaritania);Al-Afriqi (Tunis) vs. Al-Wehda (Syria).
