Monumental matches await in Palestine, Iraq at Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers

RAMALLAH (Palestine) and BAGHDAD (IRAQ) - Mark 24 February as a monumental date in basketball as two proud countries, Palestine and Iraq, host important games in front of their hometown fans.

The FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifier game on 24 February between Palestine and Sri Lanka will be the first FIBA competition ever played in Palestine, hosted at the Arab American University Gymnasium.

The Palestine national team is out on a mission to put their names on the map, by means of showing the world how well they can play. They were able to showcase some of that talent in their first game of the Qualifiers, pushing Kazakhstan to the final seconds of the game in Nur Sultan which resulted in a loss.

Palestine star Sani Sakakini scored 44 points in that game, the most by any player in the Asia Cup Qualifiers so far. He might be aiming to put on another big-time performance in the upcoming home game as he has been inviting and engaging fans to come and support the team at the Arab American University on gameday.

Another important game will be happening in Baghdad when Iraq hosts India at the Al Shaeb Hall for their second game of the Qualifiers.

The game marks a much-awaited return for the Iraq national team to play on their own home court after a lengthy absence. Even when the team was playing in the World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers, they were using other venues outside the country as their temporary home bases.

Iraq took a loss in their opening game of the Asia Cup Qualifiers, but will now get the opportunity to bounce back with the warming support of their fans at the historic Al Shaeb Hall to get a win against India.

FIBA