The road to glory tightened on Sunday, 8 February, as the quarter-final stage delivered intensity, surprises, and moments of pure football theatre. With semi-final spots on the line, the day produced a blend of tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and the rise of a true dark horse.
Iraq entered the opening clash against Nigeria brimming with confidence after topping Group A. But the knockout stage proved unforgiving. Nigeria capitalised on Iraq’s sluggish start, striking twice in the first half to seize early control. Iraq responded immediately after the break, converting from a corner in the opening minute of the second half to ignite hope. What followed was relentless Iraqi pressure, yet a combination of rushed finishing and Nigeria’s disciplined defensive line kept the scoreline intact. Nigeria held firm to secure the first semi-final berth.
The second encounter between Morocco and Korea was a tactical chess match, with both sides evenly matched across every key metric. Locked at 1–1 after normal time, the tie was decided from the penalty spot. Korea held their nerve, missing just once, while Morocco faltered with two misses — a narrow margin that ended their campaign despite a valiant effort that pushed the contest to its limits.
The third match brought a dramatic shift in tone. Palestine faced tournament favourites Cape Verde with clarity of purpose. True to form, Palestine struck first, with their prolific forward Pato finding the net just ten minutes in. Rather than chase further goals, Palestine shifted into a disciplined defensive shape, absorbing wave after wave of Cape Verdean attacks. Their composure held until the final whistle, sending Cape Verde home and propelling Palestine into the final four. With a match-by-match mindset and nothing to lose, Palestine have firmly claimed the role of this year’s dark horse.
The day concluded with a gripping battle between Lebanon and Sierra Leone for the final semi-final ticket. Lebanon drew first blood thanks to a costly goalkeeping error, but Sierra Leone responded with determination, creating dangerous chances and eventually levelling the score with a stunning strike that electrified Potts Park. A serious hamstring injury forced Lebanon to replace their goalkeeper, adding further tension to the contest. After the break, Lebanon regained control, with star player Adra delivering a decisive goal. Drawing on experience and composure, Lebanon protected their lead to the final whistle, sealing their place in the semi-finals.
The stage is now set for next Saturday’s showdowns at Potts Park. Palestine will meet Nigeria at 6 pm, followed by Korea taking on Lebanon at 8 pm — two clashes that promise to determine who advances to the grand final.
