Abu Jazar hopes Wisam Abu Ali will recover for the 2027 Asian Cup

Yihab Abu Jazar, the head coach of the Palestinian national football team, has expressed his hope for the timely recovery of forward Wissam Abu Ali, a player for Columbus Crew, to join the 'Fida'i' during the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, scheduled for early next year in Saudi Arabia.

Abu Jazar explained in statements published by the Palestinian newspaper "Al-Ayyam" on Friday, October 16, 2026, that the date for Wissam Abu Ali's return still needs to be awaited, as he is still in the recovery phase. He noted that the player has surpassed the first stage of rehabilitation and has begun returning to training on the grass.

The head coach confirmed that the Palestinian national team has impressive attacking options capable of compensating for absences and making a difference, citing forward Asad Al-Hamlaoui, a player for Craiova, who shone during the recent training camp in China by scoring five goals in three matches.

Abu Jazar added that the attacking options are not limited to Al-Hamlaoui, but also include the all-time top scorer for the national team, Oday Al-Dabbagh, Zaid Al-Qanbar, Khalid Al-Nabris, and Badr Moussa, as the coaching staff aims to prepare the best possible squad for the continental challenge, while still hoping to recover Wissam Abu Ali's services before the tournament begins.