National team trainings are regularly taking place. The objectif for the coaching staff, directed by Jamal Taha, is to gauge the level both physical and technical of the potentially selectable players for the upcoming friendly game against Bahrain on November 12 but most importantly, next year for the official games in the joint qualifiers 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup. In this sense, Taha calls-up many players – some well-known faces and some new faces.
Recently 4 Nejmeh players were called-up to the national team trainings: goalkeeper Ali Sabeh; defenders Abdallah Aich and Maher Sabra, and striker Mahmoud Siblini. For three of these players, it’s a reunion with the national team.
Ali Sabeh, 25-year-old, has one appearance. He represented the Cedars in the 3-2 defeat against the United Arab Emirates 7 years ago! Abdallah Aich, 25-year-old, has also one appearance. He played in the 2-1 win against Turkmenistan last year. Maher Sabra has three appearances with Lebanon. Sabra, 28-year-old, is a versatile player who can be used as central bank or as a left-back, the position he played in his last appearance with the Cedars against Singapore four years ago. His severe injury took him away from the national team.
Mahmoud Siblini, 27-year-old, represented Lebanon in four occasions. He scored one goal in the 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia seven years ago. His last appearance was against Uzbekistan five years ago.
In the point of view of fans, other Nejmeh players deserve to be also called: Khalil Bader, Mahdi Zein or Andrew Sawaya. However, Taha often recalls that he has an eye on all the players – especially the youth – in the league. But for now, the three players are training with the U-22 national team.
Taha who has a project based in particular on his desire to rejuvenate the national team will be able to count that Nejmeh which are for the moment with Safa and Salam Zgharta at the top of the ranking which give the most opportunities to young people to shine.
Fa Lebanon saw his assistant Wissam Khalil taking notes during the game between Nejmeh and Salam Zgharta, a team composed of youth promising players like Oscar Ghantous, Philippe Ayoub and the goalkeeper Antoine Douaihy.
