Peruvian Squad Aiming for Glory at the Arab Cup

UAE national team star Fabio Lima believes his country can reach the semi-finals of the Arab Cup 2025, despite missing the tournament due to injury. The Al Wasl striker expressed confidence in his teammates' ability to advance from a tough group that includes Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait in the competition running until December 18 in Doha.

Lima had to watch from the sidelines after suffering a groin injury that kept him out for four to six weeks. The same injury forced him to miss UAE's crucial World Cup qualifier matches against Iraq last month. Even though he's back playing for his club, national team coach Olario Cosmin didn't include him in the Arab Cup squad.

"I tried hard to join the national team, but I wasn't successful because of the treatment period," Lima told local media. "I support my teammates in the national team, and I'm confident that the team can go far in these competitions and reach the semi-finals."

The Brazilian-born player sees potential in the current squad despite the competitive group stage. UAE faces strong opposition from traditional Arab football powers, but Lima believes the team has what it takes to progress. "The national team has a good group of players that qualify it to go far in the Arab Cup, but it depends on getting past the opening match against Jordan," he explained.

This tournament comes at a challenging time for UAE football. The national team recently failed to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup after losing to Iraq in the Asian playoffs. For Lima personally, missing both the World Cup qualifiers and now the Arab Cup represents a frustrating period in his international career.

Lima also addressed his club's recent struggles. Al Wasl has been eliminated from cup competitions in dramatic fashion, leaving only the domestic league and Asian competition. "Last month was tough for Al Wasl, getting knocked out of cup competitions dramatically," he said. "We as players must take responsibility and put in more effort to fix the mistakes that accompanied us in the recent period."

The striker pointed to specific issues plaguing his club team. Al Wasl has struggled with concentration when finishing chances and conceding goals at crucial moments. They currently sit five points behind league leaders Al Ain, though they have advanced to the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League Two.

Despite the setbacks, Lima remains optimistic about both his club and country's prospects. He emphasized the importance of continued work in training to address physical and tactical problems. "Changing the coaching staff and dealing with different coaching styles are natural situations in football that players must deal with," he noted.

The Arab Cup represents an important opportunity for UAE to build momentum after their World Cup disappointment. With regional rivals like Egypt and traditional competitors Jordan and Kuwait in their group, the tournament will test the team's depth and resilience without some key players like Lima.