Aymen Hussein makes emotional plea to fans ahead of Lebanon clash and reveals Iraq's new face

With the spirit of a leader and the passion of a lover for the national jersey, Iraq's national team striker Aymen Hussein has delivered an emotional and direct message to Iraqi fans on the eve of the kickoff of the Basra International Four-Nation Friendly Tournament, which is being held in the city of Basra with the participation of the teams from Iraq, Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon.

He expressed his great longing to return to the home of the Lions of Mesopotamia at Basra International Stadium, after a historic period that saw them compete in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the global playoff.

Aymen Hussein has stated that returning to play at Basra International Stadium gives players an exceptional feeling and double energy, noting that this football edifice has witnessed the most remarkable moments of Iraqi brilliance on the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Aymen Hussein said in his talk to the fans:

"I am very happy to return to Basra Stadium after a long absence. Playing here has a special and completely different character, and the new players will experience something unique and special in front of our loyal fans. Basra witnessed the brilliance of the Iraq national team in the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and we hope to experience more happy and historic moments on the turf of Al Shaab Stadium."

Iraq captain Aymen Hussein has revealed the features of the new technical phase the national team is undergoing, explaining that the current squad is undergoing a wide process of renewal to instill confidence in young blood. He also emphasized that the matches of the four-nation tournament carry utmost importance and are not just mere friendly encounters.

The national team's top scorer added, clarifying the extent of the change:

"In the Basra Four Nations Friendly Tournament, most of our players will be from the youth category, with new faces representing about 75% of the names on the list. Everyone is very enthusiastic about participating in these matches due to their significant importance in improving our position in the international ranking, especially after the confirmation that the tournament results will officially count towards the global ranking points."

Iraqi captain Aymen Hussein did not miss the opportunity to greet Iraq's guests, issuing a warm call for the supporters of the Lions of Mesopotamia to march towards the stands to provide moral support for the young faces at the beginning of their international journey.

Aymen Hussein stated:

"The city of Basra is known for its kindness and hospitality, and we welcome our brothers from the teams of Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon to their second home. We hope to present a technical level that befits the reputation and history of Iraqi football. We invite our fans to attend in large numbers and support us, and we wish that the new players receive their great support in the stands of Basra, as this will give them a tremendous moral boost for the future."

Tomorrow's match against Lebanon will have a special celebratory significance for Iraq's captain Aymen Hussein; it will be his 101st international match in a distinguished career with the national team. He officially entered the century club on September 29 during the match against Saudi Arabia in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 27 in Jeddah.

Australian coach Graham Arnold has issued a special invitation to Iraqi fans to attend the Basra Stadium in large numbers tomorrow, Friday, to celebrate Aymen Hussein's career and honor him in front of his supporters. Aymen Hussein has etched his name in gold letters at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after participating against Norway and France before being sidelined by injury, scoring Iraq's only goal in the tournament with a historic header into the Norwegian net, reminiscent of the achievement of the late Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi.

Iraq's national team will open their campaign in the tournament against Lebanon tomorrow evening, followed by a clash between Iran and Palestine on Saturday. The tournament will conclude on Tuesday, November 17, when Iraq faces Iran in a highly anticipated match, alongside the encounter between Palestine and Lebanon.