EXCLUSIVE: Moustafa Zeidan, others to join Palestine squad for June WCQs

Reinforcements coming for Palestine as Al-Fida'i closes in on a place in the Third Round of Asian World Cup qualifying

In the aftermath of Palestine’s crucial six point haul over Bangladesh, Makram Daboub’s staff have turned their attention to strengthening the squad for tougher encounters in Group I and a potential Round Three campaign. 

In January, Football Palestine confirmed the news that Wessam Abou Ali had filed a nationality switch. On March 27th, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) confirmed on its website that FIFA had agreed the player’s nationality switch from Denmark. The striker had applied and received a Palestinian passport last year which facilitated his 2.2 Million Euro move from Sirius to Al-Ahly. 

Abou Ali is not the only dual national who will be switching allegiance. Football Palestine has learned from sources within the PFA that paperwork has been completed for Malmö midfielder Moustafa Zeidan. 

Zeidan’s 2023/24 season has been something of a lost season after a failed transfer led him to accept a loan move to Hatta FC in the UAE top flight. The player has been frozen out of the squad and will return to Malmö in June. A stunning reversal of fortune for a player who was one of the best Allsvenskan players in 2022 and who represented Sweden twice in January 2023. 

Zeidan’s ability to create chances from midfield and effectively control the pace of proceedings makes him an excellent addition to a side that has repurposed winger Mahmoud Abu Warda into a central midfielder when the team plays 4-3-3. 

 

Zeidan will also be joined by at least one more player- a defender- whose paperwork has also been completed. Football Palestine was asked to withhold the identity of the aforementioned player in order to protect relationships. 

Palestine plays host to Lebanon on neutral grounds on June 6th before flying to Perth to face Australia five days later.