Qatar secures spot on the FIBA U18 Asian Cup Championship

DOHA: Qatar's U-18 national basketball team has secured its place in the FIBA Asia U-18 Championship, having managed a third straight win in the Gulf qualifiers on Saturday. The team, which won 80–67 over Oman on Wednesday evening, July 29, 2026 at Al Gharafa Sports Hall in Doha is representing the fourth round of qualifiers organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation.

Qatar have now bounced back to tally up six points from three wins all in a row thus securing one of the two qualification slots on offer for the continental finals in Ahmedabad, India (August 13–23, 2026), along with Bahrain, who have the same record. The two teams will now face each other in a one-off playoff to determine the Gulf qualifiers champion and the team that finishes in first place overall.

Qatar's qualification capped an impressive campaign, strength was from the opening match as the host imposed its style and secured results showing full preparedness for challenge on continental stage. After trailing after the first quarter (18–19) and second quarters (23–20), Qatar then led through the third (9–14) but secured victory with a blistering fourth quarter showing (30–14). Abdullah Yassin starred for Qatar with 38 points, and Adam Suleiman top-scored for Oman with 17.

Qatar started its qualifiers with an 80–76 win over Saudi Arabia in a tight-fought battle that saw both teams stakes through the game before Qatar settled back at the end. Qatar, in the second round bested Kuwait 81–53 with a complete offensive and defensive fundamentals. Qualification was secured with the third win over Oman — a mark of the federation’s investment in youth development.

In the other round 4 games, Saudi Arabia finally got on a winning note, downing Kuwait 75–46. The Saudis opened on fire (21-5 first quarter), tied the second (13-13), were outscored in the third quarter (14-19) but came back strong again at the end (27-9). Saudi Arabia had previously lost to Bahrain (62–54) and Qatar (80–76) while Kuwait suffered defeats from Oman (62–59), Bahrain (106–51), and Qatar (81–53).

After four rounds, Qatar and Bahrain are topping the table, both with six points already qualified other than waiting for final placements. Saudi Arabia and Oman then occupy the next rung on four points, while Kuwait is still to register a point after four losses.

The focus now shifts to Thursday, 30 July 2026 at Al Gharafa Sports Hall. The last round of play will see two major clashes including the battle between Qatar and Bahrain at 7:00 PM in determining who is crowned champion of the Gulf qualifiers, while Saudi Arabia will face Oman at 5:00 PM with both teams looking to end their championship run on a high note.

Coached by Turkish tactician Cenkiz Karadag, the Qatari team are an emerging era for national hooping. The line-up consists of: Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abouissa, Mishal Khalid Al-Mughni, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohamed Yaken, Ziyad Tamer Al-Johari.

Assistant coach: Abdo Al-Harji, Hashem Zeidan, Munir Ben Ghalla; fitness coach Kenan; physiotherapist Seif Al-Din Al-Hamandi; team manager Khalid Ahmed Al-Mughni and administrators Omar Ahmed and Ayoub Rahmatullah.