The Saudi Arabian national handball team, known as the "Green Falcons," will face a crucial and decisive match against Bahrain on Sunday evening, in the final round of the main stage of the 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship, hosted by Kuwait. This tournament is of paramount importance as it serves as the primary gateway for Asian teams to qualify for the 2027 World Men's Handball Championship, scheduled to be held in Germany.

Historical background and context of the tournament

The Asian Men's Handball Championship is the continent's premier event, having been held since its inception in 1977. Since then, it has become the most important competition, determining the Asian champion and granting qualification for the World Championship. The Gulf-Gulf encounters in this tournament are particularly intense and exciting, given the close levels of competition and the historical rivalry between the region's teams. This makes the match between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain more than just a main round fixture; it's a highly anticipated Gulf derby.

Al-Akhdar's journey in the tournament

The Saudi national team delivered a remarkable performance from the start of the tournament, topping their group in the first round with a perfect record and securing consecutive victories against strong teams such as Iran, Japan, and Australia. This impressive performance earned them a well-deserved place in the main round. In the main round, the Saudi team suffered an early defeat against Qatar, but quickly recovered and delivered a convincing performance, achieving a resounding and well-deserved 33-19 victory over the UAE. This win not only earned the team two valuable points but also restored their confidence and high morale before the final match.

The importance of the match and its expected impact

The importance of this match is not limited to determining who qualifies for the semi-finals of the Asian Championship, but extends to being a pivotal step on the road to qualifying for the 2027 World Championship in Germany. Reaching the World Championship is a strategic goal for Saudi handball, as it contributes to raising the national team's international ranking, enhances the status of the game in the Kingdom, and provides players with the opportunity to interact with the best handball schools in the world, which positively impacts their technical and physical development.

Complex qualification calculations

The resounding victory over the UAE has firmly put the Saudi national team back in contention, but their task still requires careful planning against Bahrain. The scenarios for Saudi Arabia's qualification are as follows:

• Winning by a margin of 6 goals or more: This scenario guarantees the Saudi national team's direct qualification to the semi-finals without regard to other results.
• Winning by a margin of 5 goals: In this case, the Saudi and Bahraini teams will be tied in head-to-head matches, and the criterion of the number of goals scored in the tournament will be used to determine who qualifies.
• Any other result: Any result other than winning by at least 5 goals could put the Saudi team's chances in jeopardy, and depends on the result of the Qatar-UAE match.

Saudi fans are eagerly anticipating this match, hoping that the stars of the "Green Handball Team" will continue to deliver strong performances and achieve the desired result that will ensure their continued success in the continental journey, and bring them one step closer to realizing their dream of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.

The match between Al-Khaleej and Al-Shabab, in the 18th round of the Saudi Professional League, was marked by tension and anger, with Al-Khaleej's Greek coach, Giorgos Donis, at the center of the action. Despite his team securing a valuable 1-0 victory at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, the end of the match was anything but peaceful. Donis erupted in anger towards the refereeing team, a scene reflecting the immense pressure clubs are under in one of the most competitive seasons in Saudi football history.

The crisis began in the final minutes of the match, specifically in the 86th minute, when the referee showed a straight red card to Al-Khaleej defender Mohammed Khabrani. This decision angered Al-Khaleej's coaching staff, led by Donis, who considered the dismissal harsh and undeserved, and one that nearly cost his team the three points at a crucial moment. Although the team managed to maintain their lead until the final whistle, the Greek coach lost his temper and approached the referee to express his strong dissatisfaction with his decisions, which he felt had affected the course of the match.

The general context and fierce competition in the Roshan League

This event comes amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has garnered global attention after attracting major international stars. This development has not only raised the technical level of the competition but has also intensified the rivalry and pressure on all clubs, whether those vying for the title or those battling relegation. For a team like Al-Khaleej, every point is a crucial step towards securing their place in the Professional League, which explains the strong desire of Donis and his coaching staff to win at all costs and their vehement protests against any refereeing decision that might negatively impact the team's performance.

The importance of the event and its expected impact

Donis's reaction wasn't just a passing outburst of anger; it's indicative of the high level of competition the league has reached. Locally, such incidents have sparked a wide-ranging debate about the standard of refereeing in the Saudi League and the role of VAR in resolving controversial decisions. They also highlight the immense psychological pressure on coaches and players. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee is expected to investigate the incident and may impose sanctions on the Greek coach for his behavior, potentially affecting his ability to lead the team in upcoming matches. On a broader scale, these scenes only increase the excitement and anticipation surrounding the league, confirming that it has become a passionate and controversial competition, much like the major European leagues.

The medical staff of Al-Hilal Saudi Club, in close cooperation with the coaching staff led by coach Jorge Jesus, are working diligently to prepare Moroccan international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and ensure his return to the pitch as soon as possible. Attention is currently focused on his potential availability for the team's upcoming match against Al-Qadisiyah, a move aimed at strengthening the squad at a crucial stage of the season.

Bono suffered a hamstring injury, which ruled him out of the squad for the match against Al-Riyadh in the 17th round of the Saudi Professional League. This injury resulted from his participation with the Moroccan national team in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast, where the Atlas Lions were eliminated in the round of 16. This contradicts earlier, erroneous reports that claimed they would finish as runners-up in the 2025 edition.

Bono's importance in the Al-Hilal system

Since joining Al Hilal from Sevilla in the summer of 2023, Yassine Bounou has proven to be a cornerstone of the team's lineup. His contributions have not been limited to brilliant saves, but have extended to building play from the back and leading the defense with confidence and experience. He has played a pivotal role in the team's historic winning streak and their comfortable lead at the top of the Roshan League table, as well as keeping a clean sheet in several crucial matches.

His swift return is crucial given Al Hilal's ambitious goals this season, which extend beyond winning the domestic league to include strong competition for the AFC Champions League title and the King's Cup. Having a goalkeeper of Bono's caliber, who led Morocco to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup, provides the team with invaluable stability and confidence in the final stages of the season.

The expected impact of his return

Al-Hilal fans eagerly await the return of their Moroccan goalkeeper, as his presence is a true pillar of the team's security. Despite having Saudi international goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais as a capable replacement, Bono's extensive European experience and leadership qualities make him the undisputed first choice. Al-Hilal is scheduled to face Al-Qadisiyah next Thursday evening, and Bono's return in this match, if it occurs, would be a tremendous morale boost for the entire team before embarking on a series of important matches both domestically and continentally.