After the disappointment of the 2022 World Cup, the big question in Qatari football was if a new generation would step off the conveyor belt and ensure a smooth transition. Sadly, that didn’t materialise. But a few faces have quietly stood out, and Ahmed Al-Ganehi has been one of the most prominent.

While a few names have seemed to flash and burn, Al-Ganehi’s rise has been vital yet gradual for an Al Gharafa side that has reaped the benefits as a collective with consecutive Amir Cup wins. The 25-year-old forward has often acted as connective tissue, playing alongside bigger forwards, and it is perhaps that ability down the middle that has made him start alongside Afif and Ali. The Aspire-groomed forward is also able to operate off the right, but could be looked past if Lopetegui wants an incisive threat inside the box rather than an operator in the final third.