Kuwait handed tough Arab Cup draw
Date: 07/05/2012      Time: 12:43:00 AM
 
Kuwait will face a tough task at next month's Arab Nations Cup after being drawn against hosts and two-time reigning champions Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Palestine in Group A. The draw, held at the Saudi city of Jeddah on Sunday, pitted last year's runners-up Bahrain against Morocco, Libya and Yemen in Group B, while 1992 champions, Egypt, take on Iraq, Sudan and Lebanon. Kuwait will play Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the tournament on June 22, with matches held in the cities of Jeddah and Taef until July 6. Speaking to KUNA after the draw, Kuwait national team official, Ali Mahmoud said he thought the groups were fairly distributed in difficulty. He said that the national squad will receive the full support of the Kuwait Football Association during the Arab tournament, he described as crucial. The competition's chief organizer Mohammed Al-Sarrah said that the opening ceremony will be held in Jeddah with its closing proceedings to follow in Taef. Organisers have generously set a large sum for participating teams, with the winning squad set to receive USD one millions, the runners-up USD 600,00, third USD 350,000 and fourth USD 250,000.