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What now for Omar Abdulrahman after Gulf Cup to forget?

The UAE's player Omar Abdulrahman reacts after missing a penalty during the Gulf Cup of Nations 2017 final. (AFP)
Updated 06 January 2018
Ali Khaled
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What now for Omar Abdulrahman after Gulf Cup to forget?

Updated 06 January 2018
Ali Khaled

DUBAI: It was easily the worst day of Omar Abdulrahman’s career.
The UAE’s star man has enjoyed a charmed few years, winning titles with his club Al Ain, garnering international acclaim for his performances with his country and, last year, being officially recognized as Asia’s finest player.
On Friday it all went wrong at the Gulf Cup final; a 90th minute penalty miss let Oman off the hook when triumph was agonizingly within reach, before another spotkick failure gave the Sultanate the title.
Even in bad times, Abdulrahman remains the center of attention.
Now he finds himself at a forked road in his career.
Rumours of, or calls for, a big move abroad, are never far away, in good times and bad. Yesterday’s disappointment and the criticism that he is already attracting, could just be the nudge needed for him to seek a new challenge.
That the man fans affectionately call “Amoory” has carried club and country for several years now is beyond debate. Time and again he has come to the rescue when they needed him most.
It should not be overlooked that, under what would have been intense pressure, he was the one player who stepped up to take the last minute penalty on Friday. Nor that, having missed it, he had the mental fortitude to volunteer for what ended up being a decisive penalty in the shootout.
Abdulrahman looked like a broken man after the UAE’s first ever defeat in Gulf Cup final. Snapping at supporters is not what we’ve come to expect from the happy-go-lucky talisman.
So where to now for the golden boy?
In the short term, it is certain that Al Ain will provide all the support and encouragement he needs, and he has shown in the past that he is a strong enough character to overcome this setback.
But looking ahead, tough decisions will need to be taken regarding his career. At 26, the window for any move abroad is closing fast. It could be argued that Omar has done all that is humanly possibly for his club and country, and he is now in danger of getting himself into a rut.
The responsibility of carrying both teams is starting to take its toll, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to his Gulf Cup final misery next time he takes to the pitch.
A break from the fishbowl existence of the Arabian Gulf League, and indeed Asian football, could be just what is needed, in one swoop wiping the slate clean and finally fulfilling a long-held ambition.
Even a short-term loan spell could do the trick.
In the long term, Abdulrahman, indeed everyone connected with the UAE national team, will already be looking toward the 2019 AFC Asian Cup set to be held on home soil. Amoory will, regardless of what happens between now and then, still be the UAE’s trump card, so a confidence-boosting spell abroad could do wonders for player and team.
Today, the Emirati golden boy will not want to face the world, but there is no time for self-pity. The truth is that the UAE simply cannot do without Omar Abdulrahman.

CAREER TIMELINE
Catches the eye at 2012 Olympic Games
A young Omar Abdulrahman catches the eye with some splendid performances against Uruguay, Team Great Britain and Senegal, prompting even Premier League players to tweet about his quality.

Leads the UAE to the 2013 Gulf Cup
Abdulrahman is player of the tournament as the UAE grab their second Gulf Cup title in Manama, Bahrain. Wearing No21, he scores a brilliant solo goal to open the scoring as the UAE beat Iraq 2-1 in the final.

Stars at 2015 AFC Asian Cup
Firmly established as his country’s star player, Abdulrahman is in the form of his life in Australia as the UAE reach the semifinal before finishing third. Provides one of the moments of the tournament with nerveless Panenka penalty in the quarter-final penalty shootout win over Japan.

Named 2016 Asian Player of the Year
Having won the Arabian Gulf League title with Al Ain and reached the final of the AFC Champions League – only to lose to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — Abdulrahman is crowned the continent’s best player.

Bitter disappointment at 2018 Gulf Cup Final
Two missed penalties, one in the 90th minute and another in the deciding shootout, hand Oman the Gulf Cup for the second time in their history. A dejected Abdulrahman experiences arguably the biggest disappointment of his career.

Topics: Gulf Cup football soccer UAE Oman

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Chelsea overcome Club World Cup weather delay, set up Palmeiras quarter-final

Updated 29 June 2025
AFP
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Chelsea overcome Club World Cup weather delay, set up Palmeiras quarter-final

  • The London club were grateful to extra-time goals by Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to give them a 4-1 victory over Benfica
Updated 29 June 2025
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PHILADELPHIA: Chelsea beat Benfica in a game which went on for close to five hours at the Club World Cup on Saturday to set up a quarter-final showdown with Brazilian side Palmeiras at the tournament in the United States.
The London club were grateful to extra-time goals by Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to give them a 4-1 victory over Benfica.
Their late burst of scoring settled a last-16 tie which took four hours, 39 minutes to complete at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina after a near two-hour weather delay.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was left satisfied with his team’s victory but slammed the delay that turned the tie into a near five-hour marathon.
“I think it’s a joke, it’s not football,” Maresca said.
“For 85 minutes we were in control of the game. We created enough chances to win the game. Then after the break, the game changed — for me personally, it’s not football.”
Earlier, Chelsea had been seemingly poised for victory after Reece James’ opportunistic second-half free-kick had left them 1-0 up with four minutes of regulation time remaining.
But just as Chelsea began to think about their quarter-final assignment, the arrival of a storm over Charlotte triggered local safety protocols which required the game to be halted.
It marked the sixth occasion during the Club World Cup that a game has been disrupted by a weather warning.
When play resumed just under two hours later, a revitalized Benfica grabbed an injury-time equalizer after Chelsea substitute Malo Gusto was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area following an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee.
Benfica’s Argentine veteran Angel Di Maria stepped up to roll in an ice-cold penalty, sending the game into extra time.
An end-to-end first half of extra time saw Benfica, reduced to 10 men following Gianluca Prestianni’s second yellow card at the end of regulation, threaten to take the lead as they chased an improbable victory.
But instead it was Nkunku who fired Chelsea back in front, the French international bundling in from close range after Moises Caicedo’s low shot squirted underneath Benfica goalkeeper Antoliy Trubin.
As the game opened up, Benfica were increasingly vulnerable on the counter-attack and Chelsea pounced.
Neto made it 3-1 with a nerveless finish after going clean through on goal in the 114th minute, and three minutes later Dewsbury-Hall completed the rout to send Chelsea through to the last eight.
They will now return to Philadelphia, where they played two games in the group stage, to play Palmeiras in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The Brazilian club were grateful to an extra-time winner by substitute Paulinho as they edged domestic rivals Botafogo 1-0 in a battle of attrition earlier Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The winger came on at the same time in the second half as Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira withdrew teenage sensation Estevao Willian, a move that appeared baffling in the moment but ultimately proved inspired.
The tie had reached the 100th minute without a goal when Paulinho collected a pass by Richard Rios on the right flank and was afforded the time and space to come inside into the box before slotting a low shot into the far corner.
That sparked wild celebrations among the Palmeiras fans who made up the vast majority of the 33,657 crowd, and the side from Sao Paulo held on to win the tie despite having captain Gustavo Gomez sent off late on.
“That is why he came, so he could play for long enough to decide a game. He is going to have to stop again after the tournament,” Ferreira said of Paulinho, who has struggled with injury since signing for Palmeiras at the start of the year.
Winners of the Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021, Palmeiras will now hope to match the feat of their Brazilian rivals Flamengo, who defeated Chelsea during the group stage.
The last-16 action continues on Sunday when European champions Paris Saint-Germain take on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in Atlanta. Later on Bayern Munich face Flamengo in Miami.

Topics: FIFA Club World Cup 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Chelsea Benfica

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Cena beats Punk to retain WWE Undisputed Championship title in chaotic showdown at ‘Night of Champions’ in Riyadh

Updated 29 June 2025
Aisha Fareed
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Cena beats Punk to retain WWE Undisputed Championship title in chaotic showdown at ‘Night of Champions’ in Riyadh

  • Cena victory sets stage for blockbuster SummerSlam rematch with Cody Rhodes in the US
  • Continuing her rise, Jade Cargill overpowered Asuka to claim the Queen of the Ring title
Updated 29 June 2025
Aisha Fareed

RIYADH: WWE’s Night of Champions delivered a dramatic spectacle in Riyadh on Saturday night, headlined by John Cena retaining his Undisputed WWE Championship title against CM Punk in their first singles clash in 12 years.

In a highly anticipated bout, Cena and Punk revisited their storied rivalry with the championship on the line. But what promised to be a classic was thrown into chaos as Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Penta and Sami Zayn all made appearances, interfering throughout the match. 

Despite the disruptions, Cena ultimately prevailed, setting the stage for a blockbuster SummerSlam rematch with Cody Rhodes at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, US.

A view of the packed Kingdom Arena in Riyadh during Saturday's WWE Night of Champions. (AN photo by Jafer Alsaleh)

Earlier in the night, Rhodes booked his ticket to that championship match by capturing the King of the Ring crown, defeating Randy Orton in a hard-fought tournament final. It was the second consecutive year Orton fell short at this stage, while Rhodes celebrated a milestone victory and immediately declared his SummerSlam intentions.

On the women’s side, Jade Cargill’s rise continued as she overpowered Asuka to claim the Queen of the Ring title. Cargill is now in line for a championship opportunity at SummerSlam, though the situation remains fluid with Tiffany Stratton currently holding the title, Naomi possessing the Money in the Bank contract, and the Evolution all-women’s event on the horizon.

The only title change of the evening saw Solo Sikoa dethrone Jacob Fatu with the help of JC Mateo, a returning Tonga Loa, and debutant Hikuleo, who made a striking first appearance in WWE after a stint in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Fans react as action take place inside the packed Kingdom Arena in Riyadh during Saturday's WWE Night of Champions. (AN photo by Jafer Alsaleh)

Elsewhere on the Riyadh card, Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez in a street fight — a first for any WWE show in the Kingdom — while Sami Zayn earned a crowd-pleasing victory over Karrion Kross.

The 11th edition of Night of Champions reaffirmed Riyadh’s growing reputation as a key stop on WWE’s global calendar, setting the stage for an electrifying road to SummerSlam later this summer.

Topics: WWE Undisputed WWE Championship John Cena

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Nigerian Dambe boxing goes global — amulets and charms included

Updated 29 June 2025
AFP
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Nigerian Dambe boxing goes global — amulets and charms included

  • The Dambe World Series kicked off in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Saturday in the latest evolution of a sport that traces its roots back centuries among west Africa’s Hausa speakers
Updated 29 June 2025
AFP

ABUJA: The first strikes in Dambe are thrown before the boxers even leave their house.
Fighters don charms and amulets, dye their fist or even score their arm with a razor, inserting traditional medicine before it scars over — all guaranteed to protect them in the ring or deliver a knock-out punch.
Combined with prayers from “mallams,” or spiritual guides, they are unstoppable — not just in Nigeria, but increasingly around the world.
The Dambe World Series kicked off in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Saturday in the latest evolution of a sport that traces its roots back centuries among west Africa’s Hausa speakers.
“Instead of trying to Westernize it, or instead of trying to make it something else, for us the goal is to professionalize it,” said Maxwell Kalu, founder of the West African Fighting Championship, the group organizing the tournament.
At the same time, a key goal is also “opening the door in terms of inviting people to compete in Nigeria.”
Held on the ground of the national stadium and broadcast by DAZN, a British sports streaming service, the tournament is a far cry from the social tradition said to have been organized by 10th-century Hausa butchers.
“This one is big, I’m very happy,” said Abdullahi “Coronavirus” Ali, a 20-year-old who has been fighting since he was a child. “The audience is growing every day.”
As Coronavirus — nicknamed for his ferocious punches — spoke to AFP, two amateur fighters worked the ring behind him, in a pre-tournament exhibition match in Dei Dei, a working-class Abuja exurb.
Chickens pecked under the rickety wooden stands while cigarette smoke wafted above the crowd.
In Dambe, in lieu of a glove, the fighters each have one fist tightly bound in rope — their striking arm. The other hand reaches out, feeling the space between the opponents and looking for something to grab or parry before the fighting arm whips forward as if from a loaded spring.
Amid the blows, one fighter lost his balance and fell — a “kill.” The round was over.
Dambe might have once seemed destined to be confined to the margins in places like Dei Dei as Abuja’s elite paved over anything standing in the way of modern skyscrapers and highways.
But slowly, the government has taken more interest in preserving and promoting the sport, as have private groups like the WAFC.
With the advent of YouTube and Instagram, Dambe now attracts fans across the world, with one promoter telling BBC in 2017 that 60 percent of his viewers were outside Nigeria.
The sport has also grown at home.
In 2018, a Dambe match in the southern city of Lagos drew spectators curious about their northern countrymen’s pastime — and excited to see it in a proper stadium.
Earlier this month, athletes from across the continent descended on the megacity for the African Knockout Championship, a Western-style mixed martial arts tournament.
But Kalu envisions the opposite: foreigners making their way to witness a distinctively Nigerian way of fighting.
Professionalization also brings the opportunity to bring in safety protocols and stable salaries to the otherwise unregulated sport.
“If I get married, I won’t allow my children to do it,” said Usman Abubakar, 20, his fist dyed a dark henna color and arm replete with charmed scars, recalling an injury to the chest that saw him sit out for two years.
Saturday’s fighters were competing to represent Nigeria in what is envisioned as a multi-stage, international series.
Boxers took to a sand-filled ring under stadium lights, with matches interspersed with musical acts and commercial breaks.
“Coronavirus” and his opponent danced around each other, sweat glistening, looking for an opening. He landed a blow, sending a tensed crowd into cheers as spectators overcame their urge to wince in shared pain.
“It’s somehow scary, but I do enjoy it,” said Joy Beatrice, a 30-year-old forestry officer in the stands.
Last year, supported by the WAFC, British national Luke Leyland traveled from Liverpool to compete in a Dambe match — reportedly the first white fighter to ever do so.
He was “destroyed,” according to one local media report, though he wrote positively of the experience.
Nigerian fighters remain cool on the idea of sharing the spoils of victory.
Asked what would happen if non-Nigerians started competing, “Coronavirus,” Abubakar and a third fighter, Anas Hamisu, were all excited at the prospect of more people embracing their sport.
But they also all shared the same prediction: the Nigerians would win.

Topics: Dambe World Series Dambe boxing

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Joint wins Eastbourne title to end Eala’s history bid

Updated 28 June 2025
AFP
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Joint wins Eastbourne title to end Eala’s history bid

  • Joint survived a tense clash lasting two hours and 26 minutes, emerging with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) win to seal her second WTA Tour title.
  • It was a painful defeat for Eala, who was so close to becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title
Updated 28 June 2025
AFP

EASTBOURNE, UK: Australian teenager Maya Joint saved four match points to clinch the WTA title at Eastbourne with a dramatic victory over Alexandra Eala that ended the Filipino’s history bid on Saturday.
Joint survived a tense clash lasting two hours and 26 minutes, emerging with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) win to seal her second WTA Tour title.
In the youngest Eastbourne final since 1981, world number 51 Joint staved off the four championship points in a gripping final-set tie-break.
She finally wrapped up the title by drilling a backhand winner before collapsing to the turf in delight.

Australia's Maya Joint reacts at match point after beating Philippines' Alexandra Eala in their women's singles final tennis match in the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, England, on June 28, 2025. (AFP)

“I’m very happy right now, feeling very relieved as well. It was a very difficult match, I’m proud of myself for coming back and staying in the match,” Joint said.
“I’m glad I was able to find a way back. Alex played really well today. She definitely tested me and after the first set she got very aggressive.
“What an amazing crowd, you guys came and supported me every day so thank you.”
Having also defeated former Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu at Eastbourne over the last week, Joint has underlined her status as one of the rising stars of the women’s tour.
After winning on clay in Rabat in May, the 19-year-old has proved she can thrive on grass as well ahead of the start of Wimbledon on Monday.
Joint was unable to make it two trophies in one day as she and partner Hsieh Su-wei were beaten 6-4, 7-5 by Marie Bouzkova and Anna Danilina in the doubles final.
It was a painful defeat for Eala, who was so close to becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title.

Philippines' Alexandra Eala reacts after losing the women's singles final against Australia's Maya Joint on June 28, 2025. (Action Images via Reuters)

The 20-year-old wiped away tears of frustration during the on-court trophy presentation.
Eala had become the first Filipino to reach a WTA final after beating Varvara Gracheva in the last four at Eastbourne on Friday.
“I want to congratulate Maya for a great match and great tournament,” Eala said.
“This is my first WTA final, it’s a big deal for me and for my country too because it’s historic. I guess that’s also why I’m so emotional.
“Wimbledon is next week so hopefully I’ll forget about this match soon.”
Eala’s run to the final has made the world number 74 one to watch in the coming months.
After progressing through qualifying to make the main draw, Eala beat Lucia Bronzetti, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, Nottingham Open finalist Dayana Yastremska and France’s Gracheva.
She had burst onto the scene with three shock victories over Grand Slam winners Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek to reach the Miami Open semifinals in March.
Eala is due to face reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova in the Wimbledon first round on Center Court on Tuesday.
But Krejcikova is struggling with a thigh injury that forced her to pull out of the Eastbourne quarter-finals on Thursday, putting the Czech’s title defense in doubt.
 

Topics: Maya Joint Alexandra Eala Eastbourne Open WTA Lexus Eastbourne International

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Pegula eases past Swiatek to win Bad Homburg title

Updated 28 June 2025
AFP
Reuters
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Pegula eases past Swiatek to win Bad Homburg title

  • US star denies the Pole her first career title on grass, days before the start of Wimbledon
Updated 28 June 2025
AFP Reuters

BAD HOMBURG: Top seed Jessica Pegula contained Iga Swiatek’s heavy topspin game on grass to earn a 6-4 7-5 victory on Saturday and lift the Bad Homburg Open title.

The American held serve throughout and gave up just one breakpoint in the match, denying the Pole her first career title on grass, just two days before the start of Wimbledon.

Swiatek has not won a singles title since her 2024 French Open victory.

“I know you say you can’t play on grass but you are very, very good on grass,” Pegula said, addressing Swiatek after the match. “It was a special week.”

Pegula won a break at 3-3 in the first set to move 5-3 up.

The 31-year-old world No. 3, chasing her third title of 2025 and her first since April, landed the first set soon afterwards when the Pole sent a forehand long.

Swiatek put up a fight in the second set, edging close to a break but failing to carve out a break point.

It was Pegula who earned a breakpoint at 5-5 and she converted it with a sizzling crosscourt forehand.

Pegula held serve to seal her second career title on grass, following last year’s win in Berlin.

For Swiatek, who shed tears while waiting for the trophy ceremony, it was still a successful week after reaching her first career final on the surface.

“You have an amazing game and you showed it throughout the tournament,” Swiatek told Pegula. “Hopefully we will have many more finals together.”

“I feel it is going a good way and thank you for the opportunity to play here. This tournament shows there is hope for me on grass,” Swiatek said.

Separately, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is hoping an outburst after her French Open final defeat to Coco Gauff will prove a turning point in maintaining her emotional control in the biggest matches.

The three-time Grand Slam champion threw away a one-set lead to lose to the American in Paris earlier this month.

Afterwards, Sabalenka described her performance as the “the worst final I’ve ever played.”

The Belarusian later apologized to Gauff for her comments and the pair put their differences aside by performing a dance together on the Wimbledon lawns for social media.

“I was just completely, like, upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it,” said Sabalenka at a pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday.

“I believe I get overemotional at the last stages of the tournaments because I have this desire of winning.

“Sometimes it (gets the better of) me and I can lose control over my emotions. So, I would love to improve that at the last stages of the tournament.

“But honestly I’m kind of glad what happened to me at Paris because I was able to learn a lot. I was able to sit back and being open to myself, not just to ignore some things. I think I realized a lot of things about myself in those last stages of the tournaments.”

Sabalenka’s comments after the French Open were fiercely criticized in the US for taking the shine off Gauff’s second Grand Slam title.

“Of course, she got my respect. She knows it,” added Sabalenka.

“I’m happy that she was, like, ‘yeah, it’s all good, don’t worry’. As you saw the (dancing) video, I was talking, we are good, we are friends. I hope the US media can be easy on me right now.”

Sabalenka has never gone beyond the semifinals on the Wimbledon grass and begins her quest for glory against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine, a player she admitted to having limited knowledge of.

Topics: Bad Homburg Open Jessica Pegula Iga Swiatek

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