Leonardo Chahine during Lebanon's defeat against Yemen, in the last match of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, in Doha, Qatar. (Credit: Lebanese Football Federation)
BEIRUT — Lebanon saw its last hope of taking part in the 2027 Asia Cup vanish after a 2-0 defeat to Yemen on Thursday in Doha, on the final day of the qualifiers.
The match, initially scheduled for late March and postponed after the resumption of war in Lebanon on March 2, served as a final between the two countries to claim the last qualifying spot for the continental competition, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
The Cedars went into the decisive encounter in a favorable position, needing only a draw to secure qualification. But in a match that remained tightly contested for a long time, Yemen made the difference through striker Nasser al-Gahwashi, who scored twice to seal a 2-0 victory for the Gulf side, despite several missed chances by Lebanon to get back into the game.
Already struggling in recent years, the Lebanese team faces another setback after qualifying for the last two editions in 2019 and 2023, where it failed to advance beyond the group stage. By contrast, Yemen returns to the continental stage after missing the previous edition.
This defeat also marks the first setback in an official match for the Cedars' new French-Algerian coach, Madjid Bougherra, who was appointed head of the national team in January.
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