Fathi Jebali: We let victory slip from our hands and the next will be better

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya's head coach Fathi Jebali and midfielder Saad Abdulameer made similar statements following their 1-0 defeat to Neftchi Fergana in the opening match of the "Falcons" campaign in the AFC Champions League Elite.

The duo agreed that the team put in a good defensive performance but paid the price for wasting chances and conceding a late goal.

The Tunisian coach began by taking responsibility but praised the players' spirit.

Al-Jabali said: "We delivered a good tactical match against a tough opponent on their home ground and in front of their fans. We controlled many periods of the match and reached the opponent's goal several times."

He added: "The problem was in the final touch. We missed a number of chances that could have completely changed the course of the match. Football is unforgiving, and those who do not score will be punished."

Regarding the goal that came in the 83rd minute, he explained: "The goal came from a set piece and a simple individual mistake. We were close to leaving with an important point, but this is football. We must learn from our mistakes."

Al-Jabali concluded by stating that the journey is still long: "This is just the first match. We have 7 rounds to come and we trust the players' ability to bounce back. We will work on correcting the attacking mistakes before the next match."

Team captain Saad Abdulameer spoke with a sad yet defiant tone.

Saad Abdulameer said: "We apologise to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya fans for the result. We played with the character of a big team, but luck was not on our side in finishing our attacks."

The team missed two or three clear chances in the second half. "If we had scored an early goal, the situation would have been different. We conceded a goal at a crucial time, and that broke us mentally."

Regarding the overall performance, the experienced midfielder added: "The team was solid defensively and we held on until the final minutes. Neftchi took advantage of the home ground and the crowd, pressing until the end. We need to be more focused in the upcoming matches."

Saad Abdulameer has sent a message to the fans: "We know the pressure you are under after a poor start both domestically and in the AFC Champions League Elite. We promise you that Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya will return, and this club does not give up easily."

The new format of the AFC Champions League Elite provides an opportunity for redemption, and the Eagles must convert chances into goals in the upcoming matches if they want to remain in the "Elite."