
Al Arabi's quest for the Asian Challenge Cup continues against Al Seeb
KUWAIT CITY, March 11: Al Arabi will face Al Seeb of Oman at 9:30 pm at the Seeb National Stadium for the second leg of the Asian Challenge Cup quarter-finals (West Zone). In the same round, Turkmenistan's Arkadag will host India's East Bengal.
Al Arabi, who won 1-0 in the first leg, is eager to secure a spot in the West Zone final and compete for the coveted Asian title, which has eluded the club. The team enters the match with confidence, bolstered by a strong season and their advantage from the first leg. To progress, Al Arabi only needs to win or draw.
The team, which is also in the running for the Zain Premier League title, shares the top spot with Kuwait Club, with six rounds left in the tournament. Coach Nasser Al Shatti has a squad full of talented players across all positions, including key figures like Hassan Hamdan, Ali Khalaf, Jumaa Aboud, Hussein Ashkanani, Bandar Al Salamah, and Suleiman Abdul Ghafoor, along with foreign players Anabo Iwala and Christopher John from Nigeria, Hamza Khaba from Morocco, and Kamil Al Aswad from Bahrain.
Al Arabi is also determined to redeem itself after being eliminated by Al Seeb in the 2022 AFC Cup.
On the other hand, Al Seeb will look to capitalize on its home advantage and crowd support to take revenge on Al Arabi and knock it out of the tournament. To rally the fans, Al Seeb's president, Shihab bin Tariq, has offered to cover the cost of tickets.
The winner of this two-legged tie will face the victor of the matchup between East Bengal and Arkadag, the latter making its AFC debut.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
17 hours ago
- Arab Times
Asian Championship experience key for Kuwait's rising squash stars
SARAWAK, Malaysia, June 22: The Kuwaiti squash team wrapped up its participation in the 23rd Asian Men's Championship, which began last Monday in Sarawak, Malaysia. The team was led by Adel Al-Gharib, a member of the Kuwait Squash Federation's Board of Directors. It included players Athbi Al-Jamaan, Abdulrahman Al-Maghribi, Jassim Al-Gharib, and Khaled Al-Fawzan. Commenting on the competition, Al-Gharib said, 'The participation of 86 players from 16 Asian countries highlights the tournament's high caliber and fierce competitiveness, especially with many players ranked among the continent's elite.' He emphasized that Kuwait's participation with young players under the age of 19 was a strategic move to build for the future. Al-Gharib noted that upon returning to Kuwait, the players will follow a structured training program designed to prepare them for upcoming continental events. This initiative is part of the Federation's long-term strategy to develop a golden generation capable of elevating Kuwait's standing in international squash. He also highlighted the professionalism of the participating athletes, pointing out that many represent federations operating under comprehensive professional systems and are ranked globally, not just regionally. 'I am proud of our players,' he added. 'Even if the results don't reflect our aspirations, this is just the beginning of a promising journey. We believe in the potential of our young athletes.' Al-Gharib extended his gratitude to the Public Authority for Sports and the Federation for their continued support. He also congratulated the Qatari Squash Federation on its achievements. In his role as Vice President of the Asian Squash Federation, Al-Gharib had the honor of presenting an award to Qatari player Abdulla Al-Tamimi for securing second place in the championship.


Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Hamdan set to join Al-Ramtha from Al-Arabi
KUWAIT CITY, June 21: Jordanian media reports indicate that Hassan Hamdan, defender for Al-Arabi and the Jordan national team, is close to completing a move to Al-Ramtha. Hamdan has established himself as one of Jordan's standout defenders in recent years, earning a regular place in both his club and national team lineups. Al-Ramtha fans have fueled speculation, widely sharing Hamdan's photos on social media, suggesting the deal is in its final stages. Despite Al-Arabi chairman Abdulaziz Ashour previously stating that all "Green" players remain under long-term contracts, and Hamdan himself affirming his commitment to the club last week, interest in the player has surged following reports of a cancelled agreement between clubs. Al-Ramtha, who finished fourth in the Jordanian Pro League last season, is actively rebuilding its squad after a two-year transfer ban, targeting quality reinforcements in all areas. Moroccan forward Hamza Khaba, who spent the last two seasons with Al-Arabi, is expected to return to his homeland. The player is in advanced talks with Royal Army Club (FAR Rabat), despite receiving an offer from the Saudi side, Al-Qadsiya. Al-Arabi has opted not to renew Khaba's contract, paving the way for his move back to the Moroccan league, which he reportedly prefers at this stage in his career. Al-Nasr's board has confirmed the continuation of Tunisian coach Jamil Belkacem for another season. Belkacem, who joined the team last September following the departure of Kuwaiti coach Dhaher Al-Adwani, has been entrusted with leading the team's upcoming campaign. Meanwhile, midfielder Bandar Al-Barazi has officially exited Al-Nasr and signed with Kazma SC. Kuwait Club has renewed the contracts of key players Reda Hani and Mohammed Fareeh for another season. Both players were instrumental in the club's successful 2023–24 season, contributing to Kuwait's domestic treble: the Zain Premier League, Crown Prince Cup, and Super Cup.


Arab Times
5 days ago
- Arab Times
Kuwaiti legend Al-Mutawa extends career with Al-Qadsia
KUWAIT CITY, June 18: Al-Qadsia has officially announced the renewal of veteran star Bader Al-Mutawa's contract, solidifying his legacy with the "Yellow" club where he began his football journey in 2001. The move allows the 39-year-old icon to continue his illustrious career into a 24th season. Widely regarded as the most prominent figure in Kuwaiti football over the past two decades, Al-Mutawa remains a symbol of loyalty and excellence. Despite Al-Qadsia not securing any titles last season, Al-Mutawa left a noticeable impact with his performance and leadership on the pitch. In a statement on its official 'X' platform, Al-Qadsia wrote: "In a time when loyalties have changed and jerseys have been swapped, the legend Bader Al-Mutawa has remained loyal to Al-Qadsia, which has known no other home and held no other heart. There is still time for glory." The club aims to leverage Al-Mutawa's experience as it prepares for upcoming domestic and international competitions. His continued presence is expected to provide not only technical value but also serve as inspiration to younger players. Al-Mutawa has amassed a remarkable list of honors with Al-Qadsia, including: 9 Kuwait Premier League titles; 7 Amir Cups; 8 Crown Prince Cups;6 Super Cups;1 AFC Cup; 1 Gulf Clubs Cup; 1 Gulf Cup for national teams (2003) Individual Accolades: World's Top Scorer (2010); AFC's Second Best Player (2006, 2010); All-time top scorer in Kuwaiti domestic competitions; FIFA-recognized all-time international caps record holder (2022) Top Kuwaiti scorer in both the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup; Scored his 300th goal for Al-Qadsia in May 2021 Al-Mutawa also had brief stints abroad with Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) and Qatar SC, but always returned to his home club, maintaining an unmatched career defined by loyalty, leadership, and longevity.