(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Inspirational striker Khalfan Ibrahim has been named in the Qatari squad for next month's Asian Cup, according to a list published by coach Djamel Belmadi yesterday.
Ibrahim, who plays for QSL club Al Sadd, missed Qatar's successful Gulf Cup campaign in Saudi Arabia last month owing to an injury. He will make his comeback in a friendly against Estonia here on Saturday.
The Maroons are scheduled to leave for Canberra - which will be their base during the Asian Cup - on Sunday.
But the 23-man squad did not include Qatar's other ace forward Sebastian Soria, who also missed last month's Gulf Cup.
Ibrahim will be partnered by striker Hassan Khalid Al Haydos at the Asian Cup, which will feature a total of 16 teams.
Goalkeeper of the Tournament at last month's Gulf Cup, Qassim Burhan, has also been named in Belmadi's squad.
The Maroons are high on confidence going into the Asian Cup. Not only did they win last month's Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia, Qatar have also beaten DPR Korea, Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Australia in friendly matches recently.
The 2015 AFC Asian Cup will be the 16th edition of the tournament.
It is scheduled to be held in Australia from January 9 to 31 next year.
Qatar will face Iran, the UAE and Bahrain in Group C of the tournament.
The winners of the Asian Cup will earn the right to participate in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, which is to be hosted by Russia.
The last edition of the Asian Cup was held in Doha in 2011.
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