In a difficult context marked by the war which is ravaging the country, the Lebanese football team is seeking to find its bearings and continue its preparation for the qualifications for the 2027 Asian Cup.
While Lebanon is going through a period of deadly war, the national football team is ending its international break with a final friendly match against Burma this Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. (Beirut time).
Difficult context, but crucial preparation
This match, which will take place at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, in a 50,000-seat stadium, marks the end of a series of preparatory matches for the next qualifiers for the 2027 Asian Cup, which are due to begin in March 2024.
Lebanon, which previously held a training camp in Qatar and played a friendly match in Thailand last Friday (which ended in a draw), is hoping to achieve a moral victory against Myanmar. This match, which comes in a difficult context for the Cedars, will allow the coach, Miodrag Radulovic, to continue the work started during the Merdeka Cup, in Malaysia, two months ago. It will also be about continuing the integration of new players into the team, some of whom have already shown good performances during the match against Thailand.
A team in reconstruction
Lebanon, looking to renew itself for the Asian Cup qualifiers, will be a transformed team for this match. After the disappointment of the match against Thailand, Radulovic is expected to make several changes to his lineup. Striker Omar Chaaban, nicknamed ”Bugiel”, who did not take part in the previous meeting due to fatigue accumulated after a long journey, will probably be back in the group, having resumed training normally. Chaaban, who started all of Lebanon’s matches in 2023, is expected to bring his offensive energy to the team.
However, the probable absence of left back Mohamed Hayek, injured in his adductor muscles, could weigh on the team.
His absence would be a hard blow for a Lebanese defense already in search of stability. However, this match against Burma also offers a special occasion for Montenegrin coach Miodrag Radulovic. This will be his 50th match at the head of the Lebanese national team, a symbolic number in his career with the Cedars. Additionally, Radulovic will be reunited with an opponent he knows well, having managed Myanmar for six months in 2019, following a successful tenure with Lebanon, who he led to the Asian Cup final for the first time via the qualifications.
Memories of past confrontations
The Cedars and Burma have faced each other several times in the past, notably during qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 Asian Cup. In their first meeting, in October 2015, Lebanon won 2-0 thanks to goals from Hassan Maatouk and Abbas Atwi, as part of the World Cup qualifiers. The return match, in March 2016, ended in a 1-1 draw at home, with Lebanon equalizing at the very end of the match thanks to a goal from striker Halaal Haloua. These two results allowed Lebanon to finish in second place in their group, behind South Korea, and to qualify for the play-off matches for the Asian Cup.
Symbolic match in a difficult context
This match against Burma, although friendly, is of particular importance for Lebanon. In a tragic context of war, each match of the national team becomes a symbol of resilience and hope. The objective is twofold: to prepare as best as possible for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifications, while offering the Lebanese people a breath of fresh air in the midst of the challenges. While victory is not guaranteed, Radulovic’s team is primarily looking to strengthen its ties, test new players and send a message of solidarity and perseverance to its supporters around the world.
