The coach of Saudi’s team for the World Cup shook the football world by announcing bringing back to veterans who have represented Saudi in the Cup years before. According to reports, 41-year-old Hussein Abdulghani and 31-year-old Mohammed Al- Shlhoub will now be included in the friendly match against Iraq next month. 

This decision came as a surprise to many 

Defender Abdulghani and midfielder Al- Shlhoub are now a part of the XI with their Gulf competition at Basra Sports City stadium by the end of February, on the 28th. Al- Shlhoub will play in the middle of a five-man midfield and another veteran has been included on the bench. 

The Saudi veteran who played 3 World Cups Hussein Abdulghani, 41 year-old, will play against Iraq in #Basra on the 28th of Feb. This might mean Abdulghani could play with @SaudiNT in @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/muI0TWxSTc

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— Nasser Albeshri ???? (@nalbeshri) January 28, 2018

Choosing these two veterans to join the games will receive more headlines, according to Arab News, due to both players’ achievements. Al- Shlhoub was played more than 100 times for Saudi Arabia, and even internationally in a World Cup qualifier against Australia in Melbourne. Abdulghani too, has made serious efforts for the Kingdom, having played 134 times from his debut more than twenty years ago. 

Choosing them now could also mean a part in the Saudi team’s participation in FIFA World Cup.

????| شاهد.. المدير الفني للمنتخب الوطني الأول خوان انطونيو بيتزي يتحدث بعد نهاية تدريب اليوم الخميس.. #معاك_يالأخضر pic.twitter.com/TE0cWFgFm8

— المنتخب السعودي (@SaudiNT) January 25, 2018