Former Al Jazira player and UAE national team member Yousuf Abdulaziz stated that the absence of star Fabio Lima from the 'Al-Ahmar' (the national team's nickname) squad for the matches against Iraq in the World Cup qualifiers is a 'severe blow'. He describes him as one of the team's cornerstones in recent years, whose absence in the lineup cannot be easily compensated for.
The UAE national football team is preparing for two decisive matches against Iraq in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for the 13th and 18th of this month.
In an interview with 'Al Ittihad', Abdulaziz said: 'Lima's injury came at a killer moment, and it harmed the national team more than it harmed Al Wasl club, because he is one of the players who make a difference in major tournaments, provided he is deployed in his original position as a right winger, where he shows his best.'
Al Wasl club had announced the injury to their star, Fabio Lima, with a thigh strain, which will keep him off the pitch for a period of four to six weeks.
Abdulaziz added: 'Lima possesses comprehensive technical abilities; he is good at executing set pieces and shooting from outside the penalty area, and he also has a remarkable vision for creating and scoring goals, in addition to his strong commitment to defensive duties. Therefore, his absence from the team in the matches against Iraq will leave a clear gap in the 'Al-Ahmar's' attacking system.'
The former Al Jazira player pointed out that the available options for Romanian coach Olaru Cosmin are limited, saying: 'I believe that Harib Abdullah is the closest option to replace Lima, but in my opinion, it would be better to use him in the second half or as a wildcard from the bench, instead of starting any of them from the beginning.'
Abdulaziz urged the technical staff to learn from the lessons of the team's past journey in previous qualifiers, saying: 'What we need now is technical stability, a consistent lineup, and not repeating the mistakes that occurred in the last qualifiers hosted by Qatar. Frequent changes in the lineup lead to a loss of understanding among the players, which negatively affects both performance and results.'
He added: 'We don't want to criticize the past as much as we want to benefit from it. Past experiences should be a motivation to correct the course, not a reason to debate the coach or the players.'
Yousuf Abdulaziz also advised Cosmin on the need to fully give young Al Ahli striker Sultan Adel a chance to start, saying: 'Sultan Adel is a promising player with great potential inside the penalty area. I see him as an extension of the top scorer Ali Mabkhoot. He is characterized by strong headers, is good with both feet, and knows how to exploit half-chances intelligently.'
He continued: 'Keeping Sultan Adel on the bench would be a grave mistake, especially in an important match against Iraq, where the team needs a direct striker who can convert chances into goals. I also see it as better to return Caio Lucas to the left-wing position instead of the striker role, as he has more impact when he plays in that position.'
Abdulaziz affirmed that the national team possesses distinctive elements capable of competing, but it needs technical stability and the proper deployment of players on the field, adding: 'If we can achieve the required harmony and attacking courage, then 'Al-Ahmar' is capable of making a strong return in the qualifying journey and achieving results that satisfy its fans.'
