Three injuries concern Arnold ahead of Kuwait clash

The coaching and administrative staff of the Iraq national team are awaiting the results of medical tests for three players from the Lions of Mesopotamia, after they suffered various injuries that forced coach Graham Arnold to substitute them during Iraq's match against Oman in the first round of the Gulf Cup "Gulf 27" held in Saudi Arabia.

The match against Oman saw a strong Iraqi start, as the Lions of Mesopotamia took an early lead with a goal from Mohammed Qassim in the 6th minute, ending the first half ahead. However, Oman's Nasser Al-Rawahi managed to equalize in the 67th minute.

Iraq aim to bounce back in their next match against Kuwait in the second round, especially since the competition for the two qualification spots has become wide open after Saudi Arabia's victory over Kuwait in the same group.

Sources close to the Iraqi delegation in Jeddah reported that defender Akam Hashem of the national team and Zakho felt some discomfort during the match against Oman. He informed the medical staff that he had suffered a strong bruise during the encounter and could no longer continue, prompting coach Arnold to substitute him in the 50th minute for defender Maytham Jabbar.

Sources have added that Hashem will undergo further precise medical examinations today, and he is highly likely to miss the national team's preparatory training for the match against Kuwait. It is very probable that he will miss the upcoming match, especially if the coaching staff led by Arnold decides to rest him completely to prevent the injury from worsening. Therefore, his chances of participating against Kuwait seem extremely slim.

As for the player Mustafa Saadoun, he also suffered noticeable discomfort during the match against Oman and requested to be substituted in the 62nd minute. His condition was immediately assessed by the medical staff, revealing that he is experiencing a mild muscle strain, possibly due to fatigue and high humidity. Therefore, he is expected to be available for group training and ready to participate in the upcoming match against Kuwait.

Regarding Al Zawraa star Mohammed Qassim, who scored Iraq's only goal, he also suffered a muscle strain and was substituted in the 62nd minute. He underwent initial examinations, which confirmed that he does not have any issues that would hinder his participation in training, and he will also be ready to represent Iraq in the upcoming match if the coach decides to rely on him as a starter as he did against Oman.