Sports Stars Call Out Repeated Errors as National Team's Sole Issue, Blame Coaching Duo

The UAE national football team lost 2-1 to Jordan in their opening match of the 2025 Arab Cup in Doha, but players and analysts say the performance wasn't as bad as the scoreline suggests. The team played most of the game with 10 men after Khalid Al Dhanhani was sent off early in the first half, yet still managed to stay organized and competitive against a strong Jordanian side.

The red card completely changed the game's dynamics and threw off the team's plans. But the real problem wasn't the sending off - it was individual defensive mistakes, particularly from defender Kwame Quee, whose errors kept repeating throughout the match without any tactical adjustment from Romanian coach Olario Cosmin.

Jordan now sits at the top of Group 3 with three points, followed by Kuwait and Egypt with one point each. The UAE is bottom with zero points, but there's still time to turn things around in the remaining matches against Egypt and Kuwait.

Deeper Problems Beyond One Game

Former international player and analyst Bakheet Saad points to bigger issues plaguing the national team. "There are many problems that need serious treatment," he said. "Poor coach selection, lack of stability, and constant changes in the technical staff over recent years. Plus, some players being selected lately just don't have the required quality."

Saad doesn't think firing Cosmin is the answer. "Even if we change the coach, things won't improve unless we look at many other issues and find solutions. The national team needs a comprehensive evaluation."

This touches on a pattern that's hurt UAE football - the revolving door of coaches and inconsistent player selection has made it hard to build any momentum or identity.

What Went Right and Wrong

National coach and analyst Rashid Amer saw positives in the performance. "The team started excellently against Jordan. Regardless of the loss, the players showed they wanted to win. The team was organized and excellent in attacking transitions."

The UAE was facing no ordinary opponent. Jordan became the first Arab nation to qualify for the World Cup and finished as runners-up in the last Asian Cup. So competing well against them, even in defeat, shows the UAE has the tools to succeed.

Amer was particularly impressed with young goalkeeper Hamad Al Maqbali, who stepped in for the injured Khalid Eisa. "Despite his young age, he's a capable goalkeeper who looked confident."

But those individual defensive errors keep coming back to haunt the team. Kwame Quee's mistakes have become a recurring theme, and without fixing these basic issues, the team will struggle against any decent opposition.

The Coach Under Pressure

Former World Cup player Ali Thani puts the blame squarely on Cosmin's shoulders. He argues that playing with 10 men isn't an excuse - it's part of football. "Look at Chelsea's recent match against Arsenal in the Premier League. Chelsea played with 10 men after Moses Caicedo was sent off, but they still managed a 1-1 draw."

Thani says Cosmin failed to read the game properly and make the right adjustments after the red card. "The national team has lacked technical touches and identity as a team despite the great potential it has."

This criticism highlights a key issue for any national team coach - the ability to adapt quickly when things go wrong. In tournament football, you don't get second chances, and tactical flexibility can be the difference between advancing and going home early.

The UAE still has two matches to salvage their Arab Cup campaign. The talent is there, and the team showed they can compete even when down to 10 men. But they need to fix those defensive lapses and hope Cosmin can find the right tactical solutions when it matters most.