After hours of anxiety… Donis gets the most obvious boost before the decisive battle

Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis of Greece received an important morale boost ahead of the upcoming clash against Cape Verde after Falcons training saw defender Hassan Timbukti return to normal after concerns were raised over his fitness in recent hours.

The Saudi Arabian national team is preparing to face Cape Verde in the third round match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, during which “Al-Akhdar” is raising the slogan “There is no substitute for victory” in order to maintain the hopes of advancing to the next round.

Media reports indicated that Timbukti may not play as he was suffering from severe muscle soreness, which caused concern in the Saudi camp, especially given the player’s importance in the defensive system.

But fears were short-lived after the Al Hilal defender turned up for the team’s final training session, confirming his readiness hours before the crucial clash.

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Timbukti’s return is positive news for the Donis-led coaching staff, who are looking to iron out the defensive mistakes that emerged in the defeat to Spain and restore balance ahead of the clash with Cape Verde.

The Saudi Arabian national team relies on the experience of a number of its key players in this game, especially since any other result than victory can greatly complicate the qualification calculations.

Al-Akhdar will be hoping to use the morale boost they received from the recovery in Timbukti to put in a different performance and regain confidence in a game that could decide the team’s fate in the ongoing World Cup campaign.