The quintet of desert rodents, a familial unit comprising Saboog, Tmbki, Freha, Zkriti, and Traeneh, is no stranger to the AFC Asian Cup™, debuting when Qatar last hosted the flagship competition in 2011. Now, with the 18th edition of the showpiece on the horizon, these adorable mascots are poised to reclaim the spotlight.
The charming mascots were revealed to the public at Barahat Msheireb, an open square in downtown Doha, just 42 days ahead of the opening kick-off on January 12, 2024, at Lusail Stadium, where hosts Qatar will face Lebanon.
Saboog, the blue-hued son, takes the lead in this family ensemble; his name is derived from the commonly used term in Qatar for the jerboa, a desert rodent. Following him is the pink-colored Freha, the eldest daughter named after the Freha area in northern Qatar. Tmbki, the yellow-toned younger son, is named after the Timbic region in Qatar’s east. The parental figures, Zkriti and Traeneh, don green and purple, drawing their names from Zikrit in Qatar’s west and Tranaa to Qatar’s north.
The creative mind behind these official mascots is Qatari artist Ahmed Al Maadheed, who aimed to assign distinctive characteristics to each mascot, mirroring players’ diverse roles during a football match. Simultaneously, he sought to create characters embodying a traditional Qatari household while paying homage to all corners of the country.
Al Maadheed shared, “From the beginning, we wanted to do something that inspired families and young people to participate in the Asian Cup. We wanted to delve deep into our rich ecological heritage and find an animal that could represent the best of what happens on the pitch and also in our daily lives: the jerboa.
“We decided to present a family of jerboas, each with its own distinctive personality, as a way of acknowledging the importance of teamwork in football and family life to societies in Qatar.”
Bringing these characters to life for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ is an anime-inspired animation by Katara Studios. Until the tournament’s conclusion on February 10, 2024, audiences can enjoy an animated work that invokes nostalgia reminiscent of iconic cartoons from the past. Directed by Fahad Al Kuwari, the accompanying song is performed by Qatari artist Dana Al Meer and the legendary Tarek Al Arabi Tourgane.
Hassan Al Kuwari, Marketing and Communications Executive Director of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Local Organizing Committee (LOC), expressed, “The mascots of the 2023 Asian Cup invoke wonderful memories from 2011 but also embody the excitement and energy of what will certainly be an amazing competition. Qatar’s natural environment inspires the five characters and presents us with yet another wonderful opportunity to showcase our culture and heritage to football fans worldwide.”