UAE v Japan: Al Ain’s Amer Abulrahman ruled out of crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier

Amer Abdulrahman has withdrawn from the UAE squad to take on Japan at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday, March 23, 2017. Courtesy UAE FA

Amer Abdulrahman has withdrawn from the UAE’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan, adding to manager Mahdi Ali’s injury concerns.

The UAE, aiming to make a second global finals, take on the Asian heavyweights at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday in what is a vitally important clash on the road to Russia 2018.

At the halfway stage through Group B, Mahdi Ali’s men sit fourth, level on points with third-placed Australia, who they meet next week, and one point off Saudi Arabia at the summit. Japan are second on goal difference.

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However, the loss of Abdulrahman represents another blow to the hosts this week. The Al Ain midfielder, a member of the 2012 Olympics side, the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations-winning team and the UAE’s third-placed finish at the 2015 Asian Cup, was initially named in Mahdi Ali’s 23-man squad and had been training with the team in the Garden City.

Yet the Football Association confirmed Abdulrahman’s withdrawal late on Sunday. The former Baniyas player injured his knee in training and will now see a specialist to determine the extent of the problem. He is also out of the match against Australia, the Asian champions, in Sydney on March 28.​

Abdulrahman, 27, who had lost his place in the starting line-up, said: “I wished to continue with the team but was not able. However, I have very big confidence in all the rest of the players called up by Mahdi Ali, that they can show their best to achieve our ambitions.

“Every team in the group has the chance to qualify as winners. But in order to achieve that we need to get a positive result against Japan.”

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