Nawaf Al-Aqidi confident Saudi Arabia can win Gulf Cup 27

Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi says the national team are fully prepared for Gulf Cup 27 and believes playing at home, in front of their own supporters, can help them return to the winners’ podium.

Saudi Arabia will host the tournament from 23 September to 6 October.

“We are completely ready for this tournament,” Al-Aqidi told Al Sharq Al-Awsat. “We are seeking success and hope for good fortune from God. We will give everything we have and, God willing, this tournament will belong to the Saudi national team. We are capable of achieving that.”

Al-Aqidi said home advantage and the backing of the Saudi fans could provide an important boost to the team.

“Of course, playing on your own ground and in front of your supporters is a source of strength,” he said. “The Saudi fans have always supported us. We were unable to make them happy in the previous competitions, and we were just as sad as they were.”

The goalkeeper added that the team wanted to use the competition as the start of a return to prominence for Saudi Arabia.

“God willing, we are capable in this tournament of bringing the Saudi national team back into the spotlight and making it a good first step towards the tournaments ahead,” he said.

Al-Aqidi was also asked about criticism of the current generation, which has yet to win a title with the senior national team despite their success with their clubs.

He rejected the suggestion that the players lacked experience of winning, pointing to their achievements at youth level.

“As for this generation, they have been champions by nature since the beginning,” Al-Aqidi said. “They won the youth championship and the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. The players know very well how to reach finals and how to win tournaments, so this is not something new to them.

“Certainly, competing for the senior team is different from the age-group levels, but this generation will be champions, God willing.”

Al-Aqidi said the squad were also comfortable with the conditions in Jeddah and ready to cope with a demanding schedule.

“We are in our own country and are always accustomed to all the conditions,” he said. “The schedule was certainly demanding for clubs and players during the previous period, but as professional players we are fully prepared and always ready to face challenges.”

Saudi Arabia will begin their campaign against Kuwait on Wednesday 23 September. They will then play Oman on Saturday 26 September before completing their group-stage fixtures against Iraq on Tuesday 29 September.