The opening matches are difficult and winning is more important than performance

Iraq striker, Ayman Hussein, admitted that his team found it very difficult to beat Yemen 1-0 in the match that brought them together this Sunday evening at “Gulf 26” in Kuwait.

Ayman Hussein scored Iraq’s goal in the match.

Hussein said in media statements after the match: “We struggled during many times of the match to score against Yemen because of the solid defense, but in the end we achieved what was important, which was to come out with the three points, and we took an important step towards retaining the title.”

He added: “The opening matches are always difficult for all teams, and the most important thing is that we think about winning more than we think about the performance, which will improve as the matches go on.”

He pointed out by saying: “The most important thing is to win over Bahrain in the next round to resolve the question of our qualification to the semi-finals early without waiting for the Saudi Arabia match.”

Ayman Hussein praised the presence of the Iraqi fans in the Yemen match, saying: “The Iraqi fans are always present in any international match for the Mesopotamia Lions, and we derive our strength and enthusiasm from their presence in the stands, and we are confident that their numbers will increase in the upcoming matches.”