Match in the qualifiers (5)

I believe the answer is:

equal

'match' is the definition.
(I know that match can be written as equal)

'in the qualifiers' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'EQUAL' is hidden in the letters of 'the qualifiers'.

(Other definitions for equal that I've seen before include "Peer; evenly balanced" , "Peer; rival" , "What Orwell's animals were" , "Evenly-matched" , "Match, rival" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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