RIYADH — Italian coach Roberto Mancini has reintroduced Captain Salman Al-Faraj to the Saudi national football team's lineup. Al-Faraj, who missed the last two gatherings due to injury and incomplete readiness, has been included in the 31-player roster unveiled by Mancini for the upcoming preparatory camp in the Portuguese city of Lagos. The camp, scheduled during the FIFA international break in October, holds significant importance as the team readies itself for the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar. Among the notable inclusions in the squad are goalkeepers Mohammed Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Raghed Al-Najjar, and the promising young talent Hamed Yousef. However, Mohammed Al-Rubaie, present in the last Newcastle camp, is notably absent from the list. The defensive line-up comprises Yasser Al-Shahrani, Zakariya Hawsawi, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulayhi, Hassan Kadish, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Sultan Al-Ghannam, and Saud Abdulhamid. Midfielders Nasser Al-Dawsari, Eid Al-Muwallad, Ali Hazazi, Mohamed Kanno, Abdulelah Al-Malki, Salem Al-Dawsari, Salman Al-Faraj, Sami Al-Najei, and the promising Faisal Al-Ghamdi form the backbone of the midfield. The forward line-up features familiar faces such as Haitham Asiri, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ayman Yahya, Fahd Al-Muwallad, Haroun Camara, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Saleh Al-Shehri, Feras Al-Brikan, and the young striker Mohammed Maran. The team is set to play two friendly matches during the camp. The first match against Nigeria is scheduled for Oct. 13, followed by a second friendly against Mali on Oct. 17, both to be held at the Portimao Stadium.
