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As has become the norm for the Palestine Football Association a completely unexpected squad announcement was made earlier today. We now know the names of the 26 players (last second changes are always possible) that will represent Palestine at the 2023 Asian Cup.
Makram Daboub and the rest of the staff had held their cards close to their chest neglecting to formally publish the list of players that had been invited to the first stage of camp in Algeria. Football Palestine had been able to determine the 20 names who had initially flown to North Africa on December 12th and was able to confirm the additions of Rami Hamadi and Camilo Saldaña later on.
There have been several surprises since then. Mohammed Yamin has been completely excluded after throwing a tantrum in regards to his status as an unused substitute against Australia. There is a reprieve for Mohammed Saleh whose “fitness will be studied” in Qatar later this week.
Hamza Hussien was widely tipped to make the squad but misses out due to injury. With Ataa Jaber still working on his fitness this leaves Palestine somewhat thin in the center of pitch.
While there is a possibility that changes to the final squad could be made. It is Football Palestine’s understanding that this is the final squad. Palestine will be one of the teams that travels with four goalkeepers and a glut of defenders. There are six centrebacks in the side: the aforementioned Saleh, Michel Termanini, Yaser Hamed Mayor, Mohammed Khalil, El-Mehdi Issa, and Amid Mahjna.
In attack, the exclusion of Saleh Chihadeh comes as a major surprise he has been replaced by Shehab Qunbar who has not played for the national team due to a fear of flying since making his debut in January 2021 against Kuwait.
The Qunbar brothers are one of two brotherly duos in the side. Baraa and Odai Kharoub are the other two. The average age of the side is 27.2 with an average of 17 caps for each player. The rest of the squad is as follows:
