Team Qatar U-18 Turn Focus to China after Iran Defeat

14-August-2026

Team Qatar U-18 Turn Focus to China after Iran Defeat

DOHA - Qatar’s U-18 national basketball team has put behind its 94–69 defeat to Iran on Friday morning, August 14, 2026, and shifted focus to its upcoming clash against China at 8:00 a.m. Doha time on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The match, part of Group C in the ongoing FIBA U-18 Asian Championship in Ahmedabad, India, carries significant weight in the race for knockout-stage qualification.

The Maroons enter the China encounter seeking redemption after Iran dominated the opening two quarters. Qatar responded strongly in the third period, delivering its best performance of the game a positive takeaway for the coaching staff ahead of the next challenge. Iran had established early control, leading 19–9 after the first quarter and extending the advantage to 30–17 in the second, closing the half with a 23-point margin. Qatar rallied in the third, outscoring Iran 26–21 with improved offensive execution and composure, before Iran sealed the fourth quarter 24–17 to secure victory.

Individually, Qatar captain Abdullah Yassin Mousa shone as the game’s top scorer with 26 points, spearheading his team’s offense. For Iran, Mohammad Shamsi Anbouhi led with 19 points.
Elsewhere in Group C, China opened its campaign emphatically with a 103–55 win over Sri Lanka, collecting two points to top the standings alongside Iran. Qatar sits third with one point, level with Sri Lanka in fourth.

The China matchup is pivotal for Qatar, given the strength of the opponent and the impact of the result on group standings. The team must show greater balance from the outset while maintaining the fighting spirit displayed in the third quarter against Iran.

Group C features China, Iran, Qatar, and Sri Lanka. Group A includes Australia, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, and Thailand; Group B comprises New Zealand, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Syria; while Group D brings together South Korea, Japan, India, and Kazakhstan. Qatar will conclude its group-stage fixtures against Sri Lanka on August 18, a contest likely to be decisive for its final position before the knockout rounds.

The tournament hosts 16 teams divided into four groups of four. Group-stage matches run from August 13 to 18 in a single round-robin format. Group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams contest playoff qualifiers on August 20. Quarterfinals follow on August 21, semifinals on August 22, and the final on August 23. Classification games for fifth to eighth place will also be held. This format makes topping the group highly valuable, offering direct passage to the quarterfinals and avoiding an extra playoff match — a target Qatar must pursue in its remaining fixtures.

Qatar’s squad features 12 players: Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Ziad Al-Bitar, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohammed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al-Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed. The team is led by Algerian head coach Mounir Ben Ghalla, assisted by Hashem Zaidan, with Kenan overseeing fitness and Seif Al-Din Al-Hamandi supervising medical and rehabilitation duties.

The delegation is headed by Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams. Qatar qualified for the Asian Championship after finishing second in the Gulf U-18 qualifiers held in Doha, securing its third consecutive continental finals appearance. Beyond the immediate competition, the U-18 Asian Championship serves as a gateway to the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup 2027 in Pardubice, Czech Republic (June 26 – July 4, 2027). The four semifinalists will earn tickets to the global stage, raising ambitions across all participating teams and making a top-four finish an additional goal for Qatar.