Al Shamal assistant coach Hisham Zahid spoke to the media ahead of their 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League Week 18 match against Al Duhail.

“We will face a strong team that comes from a great victory over Al Rayyan and presented a very distinguished level after their ranks were complete.

“We suffer from many absences in the next match, be they due to injury of striker (Jeison) Escobar, in addition to the absence of four players due to yellow-card suspensions. That is not an excuse, but the reality we face ahead of the Al Duhail match.

“They are able to present a good match in view of the great support of the club's management, as well as the good level that the players showed in the last match against Al Arabi, regardless of the result. They showed a fighting spirit and we hope that the team will continue at the same level and that success comes our way. I also hope that the absent players will return as soon as possible,” said Zahid.

Al Shamal player Jassem Shannen said, “Facing Al Duhail will be difficult. A tough game awaits us against a strong team that has players at the highest level. But we also seek to produce a positive result in order to move away from the danger zone in the league table.

“We respect Al Duhail very much, but I trust my team and its ability to achieve the desired goal, bearing in mind that the match will be difficult.”