Timor-Leste coach Fernando Alcantara clearly hadn’t done his homework after he surprisingly only learned on Wednesday his weakened squad, struck by an eligibility crisis, will not have to face suspended UAE superstar Omar Abdulrahman.

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O Sol Nascente sit bottom of Group A during the second round of the AFC qualifying process and are rank outsiders to make the 2018 World Cup.

Their distant hopes have been further damaged by third-placed Palestine’s official complaint to FIFA about the seven Brazilian-born players who represented them during last month’s goalless draw.

“This information is very important to me, as this player is very, very good,” said the smiling boss, who had remarkably not been made aware of the ban earned by tonight’s opponents’ most-famous player before the pre-match press conference.

“He is maybe the strongest player in the UAE. But I have so many problems elsewhere, I do not have seven players (of Brazilian origin).

“The problem is another problem. Before Timor-Leste had seven Brazilian players, remember last game against the UAE was 1-0 but we had seven Brazilian players with different power.

“Now, we have changed the project and it is only young Timorians. I would like my team to be strong, but I am only the coach.”

Senior players such as defender Diogo Rangel, ex-Emirates Club midfielder Rodrigo Silva and winger Juninho have all been cast aside in the wake of Palestine’s protest, leaving a much-weaker side than the one which fell to a narrow 1-0 loss to the UAE in June.