Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: AFC Challenge Cup 2014 top scorer Ashraf Nu’man is one of six overseas based player named in Ahmed Al Hassan’s Palestine squad for their AFC Asian Cup debut next month.
Nu’man, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al Faisaly, scored four goals in five games in May including the only goal in the final against the Philippines as Palestine secured the 16th and final berth at the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.
Veteran goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh, who did not concede a goal at the AFC Challenge Cup, Jaka Hbaisha, Abdallatif Al Bahdari, Mahmoud Dhadha and Alexis Norabuena also currnelty play outside of Palestine.
AFC Challenge Cup MVP Murad Said is also named in the squad by former national team goalkeeper Al Hassan, who succeeded Jamal Mahmoud as Palestine coach in October.
Palestine begin their maiden AFC Asian Cup campaign against defeinding champions Japan in Newcastle on January 12 before also facing Jordan and 2007 winners Iraq in Group D.
Squad
Tawfiq Abuhammad (Wadi Al Neiss), Raed Fares (Thaqafi Tulkarem), Husam Abusalah (Hilal Al Quds), Ahmed Mahajna (Shabab Al Alma’ar), Haytham Theeb (Hilal Al Quds), Mousa Abujazar (Shabab Al Khader), Ashraf Nu’man (Al Faisaly, Saudi Arabia), Hisham Salhi (Hilal Al Quds), Khaled Salem (Hilal Al Quds), Ismail Al Amour (Hilal Al Quds), Ahmed Wridat (Ahli Al Khalil), Tamer Salah (Hilal Al Quds), Jaka Hbaisha (Karaka, Slovenia), Abdallah Jaber (Hilal Al Quds), Abdallatif Al Bahdari (Al Wehdat, Jordan), Mahmoud Dhadha (Nykopings BIS, Sweden), Alexis Norabuena (GKS Belchatow, Poland), Musab Battat (Shabab Al Dahriah), Abdulhamid Abuhabib (Shabab Balatah), Khader Abuhammad (Wadi Al Neiss), Ramzi Saleh (Smouha, Egypt), Rami Hamada (Shabab Al Khader), Murad Said (Hilal Al Quds).