RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian national team has topped the Middle East and Africa qualifying group for the FIFAe Nations Series 2022, the world governing body’s flagship gaming event. The FIFAe Nations Online Qualifiers 2022 Play-Ins stage kicked off this month with the opening round and the qualifiers will continue until April. After eight matches, the Saudi and UAE teams are tied on 15 points each and despite having an inferior goal difference (plus 3 to plus 13), the team from the Kingdom maintained its place at the top of the table as it had a better head-to-head record against the Emiratis. The Saudi team is represented by 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup champion Mosaad Al-Dossary, known by his gaming name Msdossary, Yasser Al-Harthi, and Meshaal Al-Hubishi. The South African team sits in third place with 12 points, the same as Qatar, but has a better goal difference of plus 7 to the Gulf nation’s minus 11. Kuwait is fifth and bottom of the qualifying group on six points. The second round of qualifiers will take place on Jan. 27 and 28.