A series of errors committed by several players of the national football team across various matches and events has revealed that the crisis of the 'White' team is no longer just a series of individual slip-ups, but a continuous pattern that has affected its results in the most sensitive moments. The latest incident was a handball by player Yahya Nadar, which led to a fatal penalty being awarded against the UAE team in the playoff match for the World Cup qualifiers. The 'Lions of the Euphrates' capitalized on it to win 2-1 in Basra (1-1 in Abu Dhabi in the first leg), eliminating the 'White' team and securing their spot in the World Cup qualifiers.
Despite the players generally delivering a high level of technical and tactical performance throughout most of the matches, a few minor mistakes at critical moments played a pivotal role in losing several important games. These recurring errors, especially as matches approach decisive stages, point to an urgent need for a comprehensive evaluation of the players' roles, their ability to handle pressure, and tactical discipline, particularly in the defensive and midfield lines, which have borne the brunt of the team's recent negative results.
Yahya Nadar in the Spotlight International midfielder Yahya Nadar found himself at the center of criticism following the crucial match between the national team and Iraq in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup playoff. Nadar made two critical errors that turned the tide of the game in moments requiring the highest level of focus. The 'White' team missed the chance to advance to the global playoff due to Nadar's mistakes. The first occurred when the ball, after being headed by Mimi, struck his body and changed direction, ending up in Khalid Eisa's net. The second error came in stoppage time when the player handled the ball inside the penalty area. The Japanese referee, Yusuke Araki, used the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to award a penalty, from which Iraq scored the winning goal, shattering the team's dream of continuing their quest for a World Cup ticket.
Khalifa Al-Hamadi.. Impactful Errors Despite Yahya Nadar's two errors in the last match, the team has recently been plagued by a series of impactful mistakes by other players, including international defender Khalifa Al-Hamadi. His errors during key matches led to the team's elimination from the 'Gulf 26' in Kuwait, where his mistakes played a central role in the 1-1 draw with Qatar and the 1-2 loss to Kuwait. However, there is no doubt among observers and technical analysts about the player's technical value, as he is one of the key names in the defensive line for both the national team and Al-Jazira club.
Kwame.. Red Card and Oman's Goal Similarly, defender Kwame Kodio's performance for the national team is inconsistent. At times, he shows a strong presence, while at other times, he worries UAE fans in important matches. His sending-off in the match against Kuwait during the recent Gulf Cup led to a decline in the 'White' team's performance and their failure to reach the second round. Additionally, he was the one whose touch led to Oman's goal during the fourth stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, despite the team winning that encounter.
