Iraq striker Ali Al-Hamadi ruled out of Gulf Cup 27

Iraq striker Ali Al-Hamadi has been withdrawn from the squad for Gulf Cup 27 after suffering an ankle injury in training.

The 23rd? Wait source says 27th. Don’t add age. Iraq manager Graham Arnold made the decision after Al-Hamadi injured his right ankle during a training session in Jeddah on Monday.

Al-Hamadi will miss Iraq’s opening match against Oman on Wednesday, when the two sides meet in the first fixture of the 27th edition of the Gulf Cup.

Australian coach Arnold has called up Mustafa Qabil, the Erbil striker, as Al-Hamadi’s replacement.

Qabil will join the Iraq squad in Jeddah after travelling from Belgrade, where he had been with the Iraq Olympic team.

Iraq are in Group A alongside Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Group B contains United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Yemen.