UAE clubs are intensively preparing for the quarter-final matches of the UAE Pro League Cup (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup), held under exceptional circumstances that cast a shadow over the competition. This stage will be played "in the shadow" due to a large number of players called up to their national teams for the Asian playoff match against Iraq for a World Cup spot. As a result, 35 players on international duty will be absent, which could reduce the usual level of viewership and excitement at this stage of the tournament.
The quarter-final matches will begin tomorrow. At 4:50 PM, Al-Wahda will face Al-Horfan at Al-Nahayan Stadium, followed by a strong encounter between Sharjah and Al-Ain at Sharjah Stadium at 7:30 PM. The matches will be completed the day after with two highly anticipated fixtures: Al-Ahli will host their neighbor Al-Nasr at Rashid Stadium at 4:50 PM, while Al-Wasl will be a tough guest for Al-Jazira at 7:30 PM.
Sharjah and Al-Jazira are the most affected by absences. Sharjah will be without eight international players at once, led by Marcus Meloni, Khaled Znahan, Luan Pereira, Majed Rashid, Harib Abdullah, Caio Lucas (national team), as well as Fras al-Arabi (Tunisia) and Young Chu (South Korea).
Al-Jazira ranks second in terms of absences with seven players: Ali Khasif, Richard O'Connor, Khalifa Al-Hammadi, Mohammed Rabie, Abdullah Ramadan, Bruno Oliveira (national team), and Ibrahim Adel, who joined the Egypt national team.
Meanwhile, Al-Ain will be without six key players, starting with Khaled Eisa, Kwame Kodu, Yahya Nader (national team), Rami Rabi'a (Egypt), Kaká (Paraguay), and Sofiane Rahimi (Morocco).
Al-Ahli and Al-Wahda will also face impactful absences. Al-Ahli will be without five influential international players: Hamad Al-Maqbali, Gastón Suárez, Yahya Al-Ghassani, Sultan Adel (national team), and Saeed Ezzatollah (Iran), while Al-Wahda will lose five players, led by Robin Philip, Lucas Pimenta, Ala Zuhair, Caio Canedo (national team), and Mohammad Ghorbani (Iran).
Al-Wasl and Al-Horfan are equal in the number of absences, with each team missing two players. Al-Wasl will be without Nicolás Giménez and Ali Saleh (national team), while Al-Horfan will be without Dougay Woon (South Korea) and Tarik Tissoudali (Morocco).
Al-Nasr is the only club in the quarter-finals that will not be missing any players from the senior national team, a striking contrast after coach Cosmin excluded the team's trio, Zayed Al-Zaabi, Mohamed Abdel-Baset, and Gustavo Alexis, from the latest national team list, despite their previous participation in the playoffs against Oman and Qatar. Al-Nasr's representation in the national team is limited to four Olympic team players: Solomon Soso, Adly Mohammed, Ali Abdelaziz, and Ahmed Raed.
The second-leg matches will be held on November 29th and 30th with the presence of international players, as the international break will have ended. This promises more competitive and exciting matches with a larger crowd in the decisive stages.
