Officials pick Qatar SC during the draw ceremony.
Doha, Qatar: Defending champions Al Duhail will square off with rivals Al Sadd in the group stage of the 2023-2024 season Ooredoo Cup, the draw revealed yesterday.
The tournament, one of the major competitions on Qatar’s domestic football calendar, sees all 12 teams of country’s top flight in action. The sides have been divided into two groups based on the final standings in the 2022-2023 season league championship.
The draw ceremony was held at Qatar Stars League’s (QSL) headquarters in Al Bidda Tower with organisers saying the schedule of the tournament will be announced later.
The draw was attended by QSL Director of Competitions Department Ahmed Salman Al Adsani, QSL Director of Sales and Marketing Department Nasser Yaqoub Laram Salmeen and QSL Head of Football Operations Ahmed Abdullah Al Sayed besides the representatives of Ooredoo, the official sponsor of the tournament Sabah Rabiah Al Kuwari, Director of Public Relations, Ahmed Al Banai, Manager CSR & Sponsorship and representatives of club companies.
Al Duhail players and officials celebrate after winning the 2022 Ooredoo Cup final, in this file photo. Al Duhail are placed in Group B that also includes Al Gharafa, Al Markhiya, Al Rayyan, Al Shamal and Al Sadd this time.
Al Duhail, who defeated Umm Salal in the final to clinch their maiden title in March, have been placed in Group B that also includes Al Gharafa, Al Markhiya, Al Rayyan and Al Shamal besides Al Sadd.
The group is expected to witness exciting battles with teams showing good form in start of the season particularly Al Duhail, Al Sadd and Al Rayyan, who have won both their respective round matches at the Expo Stars League.
The Group A of the Ooredoo Cup is led by reigning Amir Cup champions Al Arabi while Al Wakrah, Qatar SC, Al Ahli, Umm Salal and Muaither are other teams in the pool.
Al Gharafa are the most successful side in the tournament emerging champions on three occasions while Al Sadd and Al Sailiya have won the Ooredoo Cup twice.
