Yemen's win over Bahrain was a celebration, says analyst Fawaz Al-Sharif

Sports analyst Fawaz Al-Sharif said Yemen's 5-2 victory over Bahrain in the final group stage match of the 27th Gulf Cup was more a result of the players being freed from pressure than of pure technical or tactical work.

Speaking to Al Arabiya FM, Al-Sharif explained that the Yemeni team was able to shake off the pressures of the tournament and benefited psychologically from its previous experiences against Bahrain, which allowed the players to approach the match with greater ease.

He added that Yemen has a promising group of players and talents, despite the difficult circumstances and instability affecting the team. He noted that some of the players play football in the neighborhoods and fields of Jeddah, which has contributed to their skills and ability to handle the match.

Al-Sharif pointed out that the Yemeni players looked completely different from their first match, having freed themselves from pressure and returning to the natural style of Yemeni footballers, who see matches as an occasion for joy and celebration, regardless of the result.

He continued: "Everything that happened in the Yemen-Bahrain match was a unique psychological state that may not always be repeated. It was not purely the result of technical or tactical work by the coaching staff, but rather a group of players who decided to turn the match into a celebration, using their skills to make it happen."

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Al-Sharif also praised the atmosphere at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, emphasizing that the support from the Yemeni community gave the players a special moment of joy and euphoria. He expressed hope for stability to return to Yemen and for the continued development of the national team.