Monday, 6th September, 2021

18:10 kick-off at Al Khor Stadium

Al Wakrah face Umm Salal in Round 1 (Group A) of the 2021-2022 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Khor Stadium on Monday.

Al Rayyan, Al Ahli and Al Shamal are the other teams in Group A of the tournament, which features 10 teams this time, five in each group.

Al Wakrah, who have retained the services of Spanish coach Marquez Lopez, have a point to prove this time. The Blue Wave had beaten eventual champions Al Sailiya 3-0 in the semifinal of last season’s Ooredoo Cup, but the Qatar Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee reversed the result 3-0 in favour of Al Sailiya as Al Wakrah had fielded an ineligible player.

And Al Sailiya went on to beat Al Rayyan in the final.

Al Wakrah had finished eighth in the 2020-2021 season QNB Stars League.

On the other hand, Umm Salal, under new coach Sergio Farias from Brazil, will be keen to make a strong start to the new season after going through a lean patch last season, where they finished 10th in the QNB Stars League, escaping the Relegation Play-Off.

The Orange Fortress’ campaign in the Ooredoo Cup had ended in the group stage as they finished fifth in Group B.