All eyes on Arab football star power as countdown to FIFA World Cup Qatar begins

Only eight Arab teams have reached the World Cup finals since the first tournament took place in 1930. Saudi Arabia are the last Arab debutants at the tournament. No new team from the region has managed to qualify since 1994 FIFA World cup in the US. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia regularly qualify for the finals from African confederation. The novelty of rubbing shoulders with the world’s best is no longer enough. The responsibility of performing at a consistently higher level and winning is now the main aim. Algeria”s shock elimination notwithstanding, the four African nations no long dream of qualification but expect it.