Qatar coach Mounir Ben Zeghala (second right) speaks to players.
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar U-18 national basketball team will play a decisive match against Japan at 2:00 p.m. Doha time today, August 20, as part of the playoff round for qualification to the quarterfinals of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026, currently taking place in Ahmedabad, India.
Qatar enter the clash determined to secure victory in order to continue its continental journey and move closer to the dream of qualifying for the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup.
Qatar finished the group stage in third place in Group C with 4 points, recording one win and two losses. The team lost to Iran (69-94) in the opening round, then to China (66–118) in the second, before bouncing back with a commanding 90–43 win over Sri Lanka in the third round to keep its hopes alive and secure a place in the playoff.
If Qatar defeat Japan, they will advance to face New Zealand in the quarter-finals on August 21. Other play-off matches feature Syria vs Philippines, Bahrain vs. Chinese Taipei, and Iran vs. India, with winners joining the quarterfinal lineup.
Qatar, coached by Mounir Ben Zeghala, delivered their best performance of the tournament against Sri Lanka, gradually taking control of the game.
The team won the first quarter 20–17, extended the lead in the second (18–9), dominated the third (29-10), and sealed the fourth (23–7), earning a resounding 47-point victory. Abdullah Yassin Mousa was the standout performer, scoring 37 points with 7 rebounds. Azam Mohammed Yaken contributed an all-around display, nearly achieving a triple-double with 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, along with 4 steals from Qatar’s total of 14.
Japan enter the match after finishing second in Group D with 5 points, winning two games and losing one. They defeated India (91–56) and Kazakhstan (81–45), but narrowly lost to republic of Korea (64–67).
Quarter-final matches will be played on August 21, semifinals on August 22, and the final on August 23.
