Qatar Basketball Team Falls Short Against Lebanon in Thrilling Asia Cup Opener

The Qatar national basketball team faced a tough defeat against Lebanon, losing 84-80 in a closely contested match during the opening round of the 31st FIBA Asia Cup 2025. The game took place on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena (“The Jewel”) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Group A fixtures in the tournament, which runs from August 5 to 17 under the supervision of FIBA Asia. The championship features 16 Asian teams vying for continental glory.

The match was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani, President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), alongside Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, and Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, General Secretary, National Teams Director, and head of Qatar’s delegation.

Qatar, bronze medalists in 2003 and 2005, entered the game with high aspirations in a competitive Group A, which also includes defending champions Australia and South Korea. The first quarter saw both teams evenly matched, with Lebanon—runners-up in 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2022—gaining a slight edge through strong defense and quick offensive transitions, ending the period 16-11.
In the second quarter, Qatar showcased their best performance, led by American professional Brandon Goodwin’s dynamic drives and precise shooting. Supported by robust defensive play from Abdulrahman Saad and Alen Hadzibegovic under the basket, Qatar took control, winning the quarter 24-19 to tie the score at 35-35 by halftime.
However, Lebanon dominated the third quarter, dictating the tempo and outscoring Qatar 26-16 to build a 10-point lead. Despite a valiant comeback in the fourth quarter, where Qatar outscored Lebanon 29-23, the deficit proved too large, and Lebanon secured the victory with a final score of 84-80.

Goodwin led all scorers with an impressive 33 points for Qatar, while Lebanon’s Ali Mansour and Diedrick Lawson each contributed 12 points. Qatar’s head coach, Hakan Demir, was supported by assistants Cengiz Karadag, Abdu Su, Atilla Yapcilar, and Mohammed Fural, with Jassim Ibrahim Ashknani as team manager, Nabil Jumaa as assistant manager, and a medical team led by Dr. Adel Saleem, Dr. Adel Hormia, and physiotherapist Nikasio Sagayno.

Qatar’s roster featured 12 players: Brandon Goodwin, Alen Hadzibegovic, Seydou Ndiaye, Zain Eddin Badri, Tyler Harris, Aladji Magassa, Omar Saad, Mustafa Ndao, Mohammed Basheer, Babacar Dieng, Abdulrahman Saad, and Mahmoud Darwish.
With this result, Lebanon earned two points, while Qatar secured one point in the Group A standings. In another Group A match, defending champions Australia asserted their dominance with a commanding 97-61 victory over South Korea, extending their Asia Cup winning streak to 13 games since their debut in 2017.

The tournament features four groups: Group A (Qatar, Lebanon, Australia, South Korea), Group B (Japan, Iran, Syria, Guam), Group C (China, Jordan, India, Saudi Arabia), and Group D (Philippines, New Zealand, Iraq, Chinese Taipei). The top team from each group advances directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-placed teams compete in crossover playoff matches to determine the

remaining quarterfinalists.

Qatar now prepares for a challenging matchup against Australia on August 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM, followed by a potentially decisive clash against South Korea on August 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM, as they aim to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.