Qatar Basketball Federation announces team Qatar roster for FIBA Asia Cup 2025

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August 2, 2025
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2-August-2025

Qatar Basketball Federation announces team Qatar roster for FIBA Asia Cup 2025

Doha: The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has officially announced the 12-player roster for the Qatar national team ahead of the 31st FIBA Asia Cup, set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, 2025. The continental tournament brings together 16 of Asia’s top national teams in a highly competitive showdown.

The final squad features a mix of international experience and emerging talent: Brandon Goodwin, Alen Hadzibegovic, Seydou Ndiaye, Zain Eddin Badri, Tyler Harris, Adji Magassa, Omar Saad, Mustafa Ndaw, Mohamed Bashir, Babacar Dieng, Abdulrahman Saad, and Mahmoud Darwish. Turkish coach Hakan Demir will lead the technical staff, supported by assistants Cengiz Karadag, Abdo Sou, Attila Yapcilar, and Mohamed Fural.

The Qatari delegation will be headed by QBF Secretary General and Director of National Teams Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, with Jassim Ibrahim Ashkanani as Team Manager and Nabil Juma as Assistant Manager. The medical team includes Dr. Adel Salem, Dr. Adel Hormia, and physiotherapist Nikasio Sagayno.

Qatar has been drawn in Group A, alongside basketball powerhouses Australia, South Korea, and Lebanon. The team begins its campaign on August 6 against South Korea, followed by clashes with Lebanon on August 8 and Australia on August 10. The Asia Cup adopts a group-stage format, with group leaders advancing directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams will compete in crossover elimination matches for the remaining spots.

As the senior team prepares for the continental stage, Qatar’s reserve national team recently concluded its participation in the 26th Arab Men’s National Teams Championship held in Bahrain. Competing against six other teams — Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, the UAE, and Kuwait — the young Qatari squad showcased resilience and promise.

In their final match on August 2 at Khalifa Sports City Arena, Qatar narrowly lost to Tunisia 72–79 in a spirited contest. Tunisia took early control, leading 22–14 and 29–17 in the first two quarters. However, Qatar mounted a strong second-half comeback, winning the third quarter 22–18 and dominating the fourth 19–10, narrowing the deficit to just seven points by the final whistle. Dejan Janjic led Qatar with a standout 32-point performance, while Tunisia’s Osama Al-Marhawi topped his side with 21 points.

Qatar concluded the Arab Championship with 8 points, registering wins over Kuwait (72–69) and the UAE (78–71), alongside losses to Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia. The campaign provided valuable experience for the reserve squad and reaffirmed the depth of talent within Qatari basketball.

As both squads continue to develop, the Qatar Basketball Federation remains committed to strengthening the national program and elevating Qatar’s status on the regional and international stage.