Al Sadd coach Razvan Lucescu and player Roberto Firmino spokemto the media ahead of their Qatar Cup 2026 semifinal against Al Gharafa.

“Our team is entering the match with one goal: to win and qualify for the final.

“This competition means a lot to us. Winning two matches gives us the chance to lift the cup, which would be a culmination of the players’ efforts and a source of great joy for the club’s fans.

“We are at the beginning of the season and we want to continue working with the highest levels of focus and motivation, giving our all in every match, while continuously developing and improving our performance. We understand that facing Al Gharafa is different from league matches, and therefore we must be at our absolute best.

Al Sadd go from one tournament to another with a winning mentality. We started the season well, but our ambitions are high and we want to always be ready.

“Regarding Akram Afif, I would emphasize that he is a distinguished player with great intelligence and the ability to make quick, correct decisions. He (Akram) always thinks about the team’s best interests and has a strong desire to win, so it is natural to see his impact and clear contributions. I am very happy to lead this group of players.

“Al Sadd have players with strong personalities who help their teammates perform at their best. I consider Akram Afif as one of the most prominent figures representing the character of the team and the club.

“Regarding injuries and absences, I am confident in the current squad’s ability to compensate for any shortcomings. Maintaining the team’s mentality and balance is a priority, not simply seeking to bolster the ranks with new players,” said Lucescu.

Firmino said, “The match against Al Gharafa in the Qatar Cup 2026 semifinal will be difficult and intense. We have the desire to continue our winning streak and take another step closer to winning the title.

“It is a very important semifinal match and we want to win the championship. We always strive to achieve titles. Our complete focus is on the Al Gharafa match, and we will do our utmost to qualify for the final.

“Al Gharafa are a strong and capable team. We faced them in the Amir Cup final before and we know their capabilities very well. Matches against them are always difficult and require double the effort.

“Winning the first two league matches gave the team a significant morale boost and confidence, but we need to shift focus now to the Qatar Cup. We have to fight with a strong mentality. Our goal, like every season, is to compete for titles and championships.

“Any match against Al Gharafa is like a final and this particular match requires us to fight and struggle from beginning to end in order to achieve victory.”