Doha – August 18, 2026:
The Qatar U-18 basketball team secured its first victory in the FIBA Asia Youth Championship, overcoming Sri Lanka 90–43 in the final Group C clash held on Tuesday morning, August 18, 2026, at the indoor Veer Savarkar Arena in Ahmedabad, India. The win capped Qatar’s group stage campaign with a deserved triumph that kept alive hopes of advancing in continental competition.

Qatar delivered one of its finest performances of the tournament, gradually asserting control over the game. The team opened with sharp offensive focus, then raised its tempo in the third and fourth quarters, widening the margin significantly thanks to improved defensive organization and efficient scoring.

The opening quarter ended 20–17 in Qatar’s favor, followed by a stronger second quarter that closed 18–9, giving the team a 12‑point halftime lead. The third quarter proved decisive, as Qatar tightened defensive pressure and excelled offensively, outscoring Sri Lanka 29–10. The final quarter sealed the victory with a 23–7 run, bringing the total to 90 points against Sri Lanka’s 43 — a commanding 47‑point margin.

Team captain Abdullah Yassin Mousa shone as the standout performer, leading all scorers with 37 points and spearheading Qatar’s offense in a match that demanded resilience after earlier defeats to Iran and China. Sri Lanka’s Sudam Liyanage was his side’s top scorer with 10 points, but his efforts were insufficient to halt Qatar’s dominance.

The result lifted Qatar to third place in Group C with four points (one win, two losses), behind China (first, six points) and Iran (second, five points). Sri Lanka finished fourth with three points from three defeats. China advanced directly to the quarterfinals, while Qatar will contest a playoff against the second‑placed team from Group D for a spot in the last eight. Iran, meanwhile, will face the third‑placed team from Group D in another playoff.

Qatar’s improved showing against Sri Lanka reflected adjustments made by head coach Mounir Ben Zeghala and his staff, who worked to address defensive lapses, reduce turnovers, and refine offensive execution after the opening two losses. The victory provided a crucial morale boost ahead of the playoff stage, which will test Qatar’s ability to handle knockout competition. Success there would secure a quarterfinal berth and sustain the team’s pursuit of continental honors.

According to tournament regulations, group winners qualify directly for the quarterfinals, while second and third‑placed teams contest playoffs to complete the lineup. Playoff matches are scheduled for August 20, followed by quarterfinals on August 21, semifinals on August 22, and the final on August 23. Reaching the semifinals carries added significance, as the four teams that advance will earn qualification to the 2027 FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup in Pardubice, Czech Republic (June 26 – July 4, 2027).

Qatar’s squad includes 12 players: Abdullah Yassin Mousa, Tamim Ashraf Abouissa, Ziad Al-Bitar, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohamed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al-Johari, Mohamed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohamed.
The delegation is headed by Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams. The technical staff is led by Algerian coach Mounir Ben Zeghala, assisted by Hashem Zaidan, with Kenan overseeing physical preparation and Seif Al-Din Al-Hamandi supervising medical and rehabilitation duties.