Ali Saleh keeps UAE focused on Qatar test

By James Mercer • 30 September 2026, 21:27 • 2 mins read

Ali Saleh says the UAE will follow the coach's instructions and go for all three points against Qatar. The side has already qualified for the semi-finals, but the group lead is still up for grabs.

After two rounds, the UAE and Qatar were level on six points. The UAE led Group B on goal difference, Qatar Tribune reported. Their 30 September meeting will decide the group winner. The match still matters.

The UAE have already secured a semi-final place. Ali Saleh says the Qatar fixture is no formality. He wants the team to follow the coach's instructions and go for all three points.

"We are not occupying ourselves with predictions," Saleh said. His focus, he added, is on the coach's instructions and putting those ideas into practice on the pitch. The focus is elsewhere.

Qatar also booked a semi-final place before the final group match, beating Yemen 1-0 through a Yusuf Abdurisag goal.

The Peninsula Qatar

Qualification has not changed the target

Saleh acknowledged that the UAE and Qatar had both won their first two matches. The UAE qualified with a 3-0 win over Bahrain. Ousman Kamara scored in the 30th minute, Julimyo Bala in the 66th and Saleh in the 88th, ARN News Centre reported. Both sides advanced with a match to spare.

A previous match preview also put the group lead at stake. Saleh's task is straightforward: focus on the game and pursue all three points. UAE coach Zlatko Dalic has urged his side not to relax after qualifying. He said they are targeting a win, Gulf Today reported. Win remains the target.

After two rounds, the UAE had scored seven goals without conceding. Qatar were also unbeaten and had yet to let in a goal, setting up the final group match as a test of both teams ahead of the semi-finals.

The National

Saleh puts the emphasis on execution

The winger thanked supporters for their backing. He said the team hopes to make them happy in every match. Saleh wants the UAE to focus on winning rather than outside predictions about its title chances.

The semi-final place is secured. The group lead is not. Saleh's message is to focus on preparation and execution, not predictions. Execution matters most.

Topics: Football Fixtures & Results Football Analysis #Players & Athletes #UAE National Football Team #Arabian Gulf Cup

UAE CUE Sports Desk

James Mercer

James Mercer is the Founder, Owner, Publisher and Managing Director of UAE CUE Sports, where he oversees editorial direction and the publication's development across the Emirates. He writes about UAE sport, sports media, major events, venues, sports business and the wider relationship between participation, audiences and the country's sporting industry.