QSL
The 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League witnessed challenges and difficulties, and competition between the teams lasted till the final round.
It is certain that the teams will seek to build on their positives and address areas for improvement in order to be better in the new season (2024-2025).
In successive episodes, we review each team’s performance in the 2023-2024 Expo Stars League.
AL WAKRAH
For the third season in a row, Al Wakrah succeeded to be among the top four teams of Expo Stars League, after good levels and strong performance through which they occupied fourth place in the standings, behind Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa in that order.
Al Wakrah collected 38 points from 22 matches (11 victories, five draws and six defeats). They scored 40 goals and conceded 30.
Top-four finish for third time in a row
Considering what Al Wakrah achieved in the last three seasons of league championship, the team’s level is largely stable considering the closeness in their end points tally.
Al Wakrah had finished the 2021-2022 season in third place with 37 points and 2022-2023 season fourth with 39 points.
Three technical stages
Despite the challenges and difficulties, Al Wakrah remained as a technically-stable side.
Al Wakrah’s season that culminated with them winning the Qatar Cup 2024 can be divided into three technical stages.
The stage of Spaniard Marquez Lopez, who had taken over the technical task of the team several seasons ago when they played in the Second Division, was the first. The Blue Wave continued to excel under his technical leadership.
Al Wakrah began the season under Lopez, who prepare the players as per the required technical and physical levels. The coach then moved on to take over the reins of Qatar national team, with whom he achieved great success by winning the Asian Cup 2023.
The second technical stage was under Lopez’s compatriot Jose Murcia. But there was a decline in results in the last rounds of league and he was relieved of his duties.
Then came national coach Ali Rahma Al Marri, who helped Al Wakrah to a respectable position in the league and also triumph in the Qatar Cup 2024.
Strengthening the ranks with strong deals
At the beginning of the season, a number of deals were made to strengthen the team with distinguished players, including Hamdi Fathi, who came from Al Ahli of Egypt, in addition to the return of Ayoub Assal, who played for Al Markhiya on loan from the middle of 2022-2023 season, and Omar Salah among others.
Winning start
Al Wakrah started off by defeating Muaither 3-0 at the Al Janoub Stadium in Week 1, but were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Shamal in the second round.
Al Wakrah then held Al Sadd to a goalless draw in the third round, before beating Al Markhiya in the fourth round.
They defeated table toppers Al Rayyan 3-2 in the fifth round, Al Duhail in the sixth round by the same score in their postponed match, Umm Salal 2-1 in Week 7 and Qatar SC 1-0 in Week 8.
First loss
The team’s first loss of the season came against Al Arabi (1-2) in the ninth round, but quickly regained balance by holding Al Gharafa 1-1 and then beat Al Ahli 3-2 in Week 11.
Al Wakrah finished the first leg in second place with 24 points on goal difference, behind Al Gharafa.
Al Wakrah started the second leg with a 4-2 win over Muaither in Week 12.
Squad strengthened
During the Asian Cup 2023 Qatar break, Al Wakrah underwent strong and intensive training under Murcia and played five friendly matches – against Russia’s Dynamo Moscow, Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia, Armenian side Noah, Muaither, and Al Ahli.
Al Wakrah also announced the signing of three players – Dutchman Adam Maher from Damac of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Metwali from Al Shamal and Khaled Ali from Al Rayyan.
Return of league
The league returned with Week 14 action, where Al Wakrah tied 0-0 with Al Sadd. They then lost to 1-2 to Al Markhiya and Al Rayyan 0-3 before they bounced back to beat Al Duhail 2-1 in Week 17. Then defeated Umm Salal 2-0 and Qatar SC 5-1 in Week 18 and 19 respectively.
However, they suffered a heavy loss to Al Arabi (2-4) in Week 20 and tied with Al Shamal 0-0 in the postponed match from Week 13 after which the management decided to relieve coach Murcia of his duties and Al Marri assumed charge.
In the last two matches under Al Marri, Al Wakrah lost 2-4 to Al Gharafa and 0-1 to Al Ahli.
Benyettou, Al Wakrah’s sniper
Algerian forward Mohamed Benyettou was Al Wakrah’s top scorer in this season’s league championship with 16 goals. He is one of the players who make the difference and excelled during the past seasons. Jacinto Dala was their second-best scorer with seven goals, followed by Ayoub Assal with six goals.
Al Wakrah were also served well by Lucas Mendes, Hamdi Fathi, Ahmed Fadhel, Omar Ali, and goalkeepers Saoud Al Khater, Mohammed Al Bakri and Omair Al Sayed among others.
The 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League witnessed challenges and difficulties, and competition between the teams lasted till the final round.
It is certain that the teams will seek to build on their positives and address areas for improvement in order to be better in the new season (2024-2025).
In successive episodes, we review each team’s performance in the 2023-2024 Expo Stars League.