A crush killed 4 individuals and injured dozens as followers tried to get into the stadium hours earlier than kickoff.
Hosts Iraq have gained the Arabian Gulf Cup for the primary time since 1988 with a 3-2 victory over Oman within the last, an event marred by a lethal stampede exterior the Basra Worldwide Stadium.
A final-minute extra-time aim by Manaf Younis on Thursday was sufficient to assist Iraq carry the match for the fourth time.
Earlier, Iraq opened the scoring by means of midfielder Ibrahim Bayesh within the twenty fourth minute. Salaah al-Yahyaei equalised in stoppage time by means of a penalty and ship the sport into further time.
Amjad Atwan put Iraq again into the lead within the 116th minute. Nonetheless, in one other twist to the sport, Oman’s Omar al-Malki scored within the 119th minute to stage the rating once more.
With seconds left, Iraqi centre-back Younis scored the winner.
There have been celebrations throughout the nation, with honking automotive horns and fireworks. Within the capital, Baghdad, tons of of joyous individuals gathered at Tahrir Sq. waving their nation’s flag.
“We actually wanted to really feel this pleasure,” mentioned Mansour Zamil, a supporter in Basra, in accordance with AFP information company.
Lethal stampede
Lengthy banned from internet hosting worldwide soccer matches, war-torn Iraq had been relying on the Gulf Cup to enhance its picture.
On Thursday, as followers tried to get into the stadium hours earlier than kickoff, a crush killed 4 individuals and injured dozens, a well being official mentioned.
1000’s of followers with out tickets had gathered exterior the stadium since daybreak in hopes of watching the match.
An AFP photographer contained in the stadium mentioned the turnstiles have been nonetheless closed when the stampede broke out. Sirens blared as ambulances arrived to hurry the injured to hospital.
![Lethal stampede mars Iraq’s fourth Gulf Cup title - Fifa Information 7 Soccer Football - Arabian Gulf Cup25 - Final - Iraq v Oman - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - January 19, 2023 Iraq's Mustafa Nadhim in action with Oman's Issam Al Sabhi REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani](https://i0.wp.com/fifanews.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1674206575_76_Deadly-stampede-mars-Iraqs-fourth-Gulf-Cup-title-Fifa.jpg?w=1170)
It was a blow for organisers of the primary worldwide soccer match hosted in Iraq since 1979 as the larger prize of internet hosting the 2026 World Cup qualifiers appeared to be inside attain.
As a result of safety issues, Iraq has staged solely two World Cup qualifiers for the reason that US-led invasion of 2003, in opposition to Jordan within the northern metropolis of Erbil in 2011 and Hong Kong in Basra eight years later.
All different aggressive video games involving the nationwide workforce have been performed in neighbouring international locations equivalent to Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Baghdad final staged a aggressive worldwide sport in September 2001 in opposition to Bahrain. It was scheduled to host a 2022 World Cup qualifier in opposition to the UAE on March 24 final 12 months. However following a missile assault on Erbil 11 days earlier than the sport, it was shifted to Saudi Arabia.