Haidar, the President of the Lebanese Football Federation, praised the recent development of the national team during a meeting held with the players at the Ramada Hotel in Raouche. The meeting was attended by Secretary-General Jihad Al-Shahaf and team manager Rashid Nassar. Ahead of the team’s trip to Sharjah, UAE, Haidar addressed the local players called up for the squad that will face Palestine (on the 16th) and Bangladesh (on the 21st) in the dual qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup, promising them significant bonuses for their victories and achievements.
The federation president expressed his happiness about the national team’s promising new look following the contract with a global sports equipment company considered among the best. He stated, "It is our duty for our team to present itself in the best light before the sports community; therefore, we have taken a step forward in our ongoing quest for development and to provide you with all necessary support."
He added, "The second phase that we expect to accompany this step is the substance, which has begun to show in the last two matches, and everyone felt this change, starting from the fact that we now have a team with a fighting spirit, striving for better outcomes. This is after a period where the team gave an impression that did not reflect its true potential, which was also unsatisfactory for you."
Haidar emphasized that the "Cedars" stand at the threshold of a new phase and expressed his hope and conviction that they could present the team in a way that befits it. He also noted the award received by the Lebanese Federation from its Asian counterpart as the best national federation in the diamond category, stating that it was well-deserved because the Asian Federation has high credibility and does not consider personal opinions or biases when deciding the winners.
He explained, "This award is based on certain and precise criteria, derived from assessments made by the Asian Federation based on the performance of each federation in different areas. What we received is a continuation of the praise directed at us by various officials from the international and continental federations during multiple visits, where there was commendation for the work of the federation and the secretary-general's leadership, ensuring that all global requirements are executed with professionalism and transparency, including financial matters and the specific allocations for the federation and determined expenses through certain items."
Haidar clarified, "In general assemblies where budgets are approved, representatives from the Asian Federation are always present as observers to give their consent on the implementation methods and the level of work." He indicated that he shared this information with the players, "because we hope to achieve a technical accomplishment equivalent to the administrative award we received. Therefore, I hope you will achieve an accomplishment worthy of the highest honors. We are always with you and ready for anything you need, and I promise you that the bonuses will be greater than those previously determined."
He concluded, "We have entered a serious phase and have two crucial matches that we should win, and we are capable of meeting the requirements because I have complete confidence in you, and you know your capabilities. I urge you to focus and abide by the coach's instructions, keeping in mind that this stage is vital. If you win these two matches, you will have a significant opportunity to advance, which will not only reflect on the federation’s reputation and Lebanon's but also on you since the majority of what we gain will often be allocated to you."
At the end of the meeting, a cake was cut to celebrate the second captain of the team, Mohammad Haidar's birthday.
