Green Falcons prepare for 2nd stage of Asian qualifiers for FIFA, AFC cups
Green Falcons will host Tajikistan’s national team on March 21 at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh
They will then travel to face Tajikistan again on March 26 at the Central Stadium in Dushanbe
Updated 17 March 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national football team met at their training camp in Riyadh on Sunday in preparation for the third and fourth rounds of the second stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
The Green Falcons will host Tajikistan’s national team on March 21 at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh and will then travel to face Tajikistan again on March 26 at the Central Stadium in Dushanbe.
A training session will be held for the team on Sunday at the Mohammed bin Salman Academy at 8:45 p.m.
The Green Falcons will depart for Tajikistan on March 25 via King Khalid International Airport in preparation for the fourth-round match against Tajikistan.
The head coach, Roberto Mancini, has called up 28 players for the camp: Mohammed A-Owais, Ahmed Al-Kassar, Raghid Najjar, Mohammed Al-Yami, Saud Abdulhamid, Fuaz Al-Sugor, Ali Al-Bulayhi, Ali Lajami, Awn A-Saluli, Hassan Kadish, Waleed Al-Ahmad, Rayan Hamed, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Muteb Al-Harbi, Aiman Yahya, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mukhtar Ali, Abdulelah Al-Malki, Mohammed Kanno, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Abbas Al-Hassan, Sami Al-Najei, Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdulrahman Gharib, Abdullah Radif, Feras Al-Brikan, and Saleh Al-Shehri.
The national team is in Group 7 in the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup alongside Jordan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. The Green Falcons currently lead their group with six points after defeating Pakistan and Jordan.
Minister of Sport receives 2025 AFC Elite Champions League winners Al-Ahli
Prince Abdulaziz congratulated the Al-Ahli players and management on their victory over Japan’s Kawasaki
Prince Abdulaziz expressed his admiration at the outstanding performances delivered by the team over the course of the tournament
Updated 39 min 41 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal received the 2025 AFC Elite Champions League winners Al-Ahli at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah and congratulated them on their victory over Japan’s Kawasaki.
The reception was also attended by Assistant Minister of Sport Abdulilah bin Saad Al-Dalak, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Yasser Al-Misehal, and several ministry officials and leaders.
Prince Abdulaziz expressed his admiration at the outstanding performances delivered by the Al-Ahli players over the course of the tournament. He also praised the players’ commitment, competiveness and cohesiveness, which paved the way for ultimate victory.
Asian Glory for Al-Ahli with Champions League triumph
Deserved win in front of 60,000 ecstatic fans at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium
First-half goals from Galeno and Franck Kessie did the damage
Updated 04 May 2025
John Duerden
JEDDAH: Al-Ahli are the champions of Asia for the first time after a 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale in Jeddah on Saturday.
It was a deserved win in front of 60,000 ecstatic fans at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium as the green giants join local rivals Al-Ittihad as well as Al-Hilal in that exclusive club — Saudi Arabian champions of Asia.
First-half goals from Galeno, a beauty, and Franck Kessie did the damage and once Al-Ahli were ahead, they never looked like letting the trophy slip after being runners-up in 1986 and 2012.
Roared on by the home fans who produced another stunning exhibition of tifos before kick-off and did not let the energy levels drop, the home team starting brightly. Ivan Toney turned smartly on the right corner of the penalty area in the fifth minute, and the England striker’s strong shot forced a flying save from Louis-Thebault Yamaguchi. Moments later, it was Ziyad Al-Johani in the air on the edge of the six-yard box but his shot was also blocked by the keeper.
It was not all one-way traffic, and Marcinho’s shot from the left went just wide of the opposite post. It seemed to spur Al-Ahli on, however, and they kept pushing forward. Toney, Ibanez and Galeno all had shots, although not enough to trouble the goalkeeper too much.
Al-Ahli were on top and just when it started to look like it could be a frustrating evening, Galeno produced a moment of magic. Receiving the ball from Roberto Firmino outside the area, the Brazilian winger was given a little too much time and space. Even so, few expected the outcome — a perfect shot curled into the top corner to repay a considerable slice of that transfer fee paid to FC Porto in January.
For the five-time Japanese champions it was then crucial that they did not concede again before the break but that is exactly what happened. Firmino crossed from the right and there was former AC Milan and Barcelona midfielder Kessie to head home from close range. Kawasaki were shellshocked and desperately trying to stay in the game and not fall even further behind.
Their best chance came just before the hour. A cross from the left went all the way to the far post and perhaps Sai van Wermeskerken should have done better with the header but it went high and wide.
Al-Ahli were able to sit back and then look to break and cause problems. Riyad Mahrez, with nine goals already in the tournament, shot just wide from the edge of the area and it was all looking too comfortable for his side.
Kawasaki could not create clear chances with only Tatsuya Ito, scorer of a stunner in that 3-2 semi-final win over Al-Nassr on Wednesday, causing a few nerves among the home ranks. He shot just wide from the edge of the area with 15 minutes remaining and then came closer soon after, making a little space for himself outside Toney on the right side of the area and firing just across the face of goal.
That was as good as it got. It was a professional performance from Al-Ahli who never looked like letting their two-goal lead slip. It was a deserved win on the night and also the tournament, finishing as the only unbeaten team throughout the group and knockout stages.
The celebrations at the final whistle may well have been heard in Riyadh but the message has certainly been sent loud and clear to the rest of Asia: Al-Ahli are the new champions of the world’s biggest continent and it looks like there is more to come.
INTERVIEW: Kawasaki Frontale’s Sai van Wermeskerken says pressure all on Al-Ahli in Champions League final
First-time champions to be crowned in Saturday’s showdown
Updated 03 May 2025
MARK LOMAS
JEDDAH: Having ended the AFC Champions League Elite dreams of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Wednesday’s semifinal, Kawasaki Frontale’s full-back Sai van Wermeskerken is now plotting another upset.
First-time champions of the ACL Elite will be crowned on Saturday when Kawasaki face Al-Ahli in the final — at the Jeddah club’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
And although Al-Ahli are the favorites, Van Wermeskerken says he and his teammates are determined to take the trophy back to Japan.
Van Wermeskerken told Arab News in an exclusive interview ahead of the final: “The final is going to be such a special game.
“Al-Ahli is a really tough opponent but, after what we did in the semifinal, we know if we can play as a team we have a great chance to win this tournament.”
Van Wermeskerken, whose father is Dutch and mother is Japanese, left Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen for Kawasaki Frontale last summer — ending an 11-year stay in the Netherlands.
With Japanese football stadiums noticeably less hostile than their European counterparts, the player has relished playing in front of animated crowds in Jeddah.
He said: “We were training beside the stadium when Al-Hilal played Gwangju (in the first quarterfinal) and could hear the noise. We were like ‘OK, these finals are going to be loud.’
“I have played in some incredible atmospheres in Europe — big games against Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord — and this was definitely comparable and I love these types of games. If you play well and the home fans boo, I find that very motivational.
“I know for some of my teammates it was a bit more difficult; this is not the normal atmosphere in Japan so it was a great learning experience for them. I think 5 percent of the stadium was our supporters and 95 percent against us.
“We know it will be the same against Al-Ahli, which makes it really tough of course. But because we survived the semifinal I think it will be much easier for us mentally in the final.”
Van Wermeskerken insists he has not felt overawed by the quality of opponents in the ACL Elite finals in Saudi Arabia. He helped to successfully shackle AFC Player of the Year Akram Afif in the quarterfinal victory over Al-Sadd, before keeping Cristiano Ronaldo at bay and marking Sadio Mane in the 3-2 last-four win over Al-Nassr.
Van Wermeskerken helped to successfully shackle AFC Player of the Year Akram Afif in the quarterfinal victory over Al-Sadd, before keeping Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) at bay and marking Sadio Mane in the 3-2 last-four win over Al-Nassr. (AFP)
Goals from Tatsuya Ito, Yuto Ozeki and 38-year-old Kawasaki veteran Akihiro Ienaga handed Shigetoshi Hasebe’s team a famous triumph.
Van Wermeskerken said: “I felt emotional after the semifinal. It was really fun and one of the most enjoyable games in my career.
“If you’re playing football, of course those names like Ronaldo, who have already made so much history, are the players you always hope to play against. I loved the experience; I was not scared of facing Ronaldo or Mane — I respect them but also feel I have the confidence to stop them.”
The full-back will have to be at his best again in the final as he faces Al-Ahli’s twin wing threat of Galeno and Riyad Mahrez. The former has contributed three goals and three assists in his six ACL Elite games since arriving from FC Porto in January, while Mahrez is favorite to be named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player having scored nine and set up eight more in his 12 matches this season.
Van Wermeskerken said: “Mahrez is an amazing player, of course. My old teammate at PEC Zwolle, Oussama Darfalou, played for the Algeria national team with Mahrez and he texted me after we won the semifinal to say I’d better play my best.
“Of course, I know how good he is. Mahrez can change what he wants to do at the last moment — his movement is very unpredictable. He can find solutions from difficult situations. I prefer to face a player who just keeps dribbling against me, but I know Mahrez is creative and can come up with moments out of nowhere.”
Mahrez and teammate Roberto Firmino could become the first players to win the UEFA and AFC Champions League titles if Al-Ahli win on Saturday, but Van Wermeskerken has other ideas.
While he recognizes Kawasaki Frontale will be underdogs for the final, the Japanese defender insists that the pressure Al-Ahli feel as hosts could weigh heavily on Matthias Jaissle’s side.
He said: “We still have the feeling of the challenger, like we did against Al-Nassr, but we also have belief in our ability. I don’t know how Al-Ahli feel, but of course there is an inevitable pressure and expectation from the supporters.
“Al-Ahli had a really tough game against Al-Hilal and, honestly, we know we can win this final. For Kawasaki Frontale it is a chance at history — not just for one person, but for this whole club.
“It is the only trophy missing at this moment; the club has won everything else, and taking home this trophy is all that the players and coaches have been talking about since I joined. We believe we can do it.”
Mahrez calls on Al-Ahli to embrace opportunity in Asian Champions League final
“When you play in this type of competition you are ready to win, especially when you play at home,” said Mahrez
“We have a good opportunity to bring the first Champions League to Al-Ahli”
Updated 02 May 2025
Reuters
JEDDAH: Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez has called on his teammates to avoid complacency as the Saudi Pro League side look to win the Asian Champions League Elite title for the first time on Saturday with victory over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
The Jeddah-based club, who have the advantage of playing the final in front of their own fans at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, will be making a third attempt to lift the trophy after final defeats in 1986 and 2012.
But while a squad boasting high-profile signings such as Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Ivan Toney and Franck Kessie will go into the decider as favorites, the Algeria winger emphasized the need to embrace the opportunity provided by the occasion.
“When you play in this type of competition you are ready to win, especially when you play at home,” said Mahrez.
“We have a good opportunity to bring the first Champions League to Al-Ahli and we will give everything.
“Of course the opponent is not an opponent that we play every week, it’s from Japan and it’s a different team. We have seen them play and we know what approach we can have.
“The most important is to give everything and to enjoy it because maybe some people think finals are every season, but some people might only play one final in their career. So we have to give everything to win the trophy for Al-Ahli.”
Mahrez, 34, is no stranger to success, having been part of the Manchester City side that won the treble of UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 2023 as well as four other English league titles, including with Leicester City in 2016.
He was also a key part of Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations success in 2019 but is looking to claim his first silverware since switching to Al-Ahli from City last year.
“This is a trophy in another continent, in Asia,” said Mahrez, who has scored nine times in the competition so far.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in teams that have won a lot of trophies with big players. When you play, any trophy, any cup you play for is always exciting.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I really want to win a trophy with this team, this club and I’ll give everything tomorrow.”
AFC Champions League semifinal heartache for Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr
Victory for the Riyadh side would have set up an all-Saudi final against Al-Ahli but they lose 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in Jeddah
Jhon Duran has chance to make it 3-3 from close range in the closing minutes but fails to make contact
Updated 30 April 2025
John Duerden
JEDDAH: Despite the best efforts of Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates, Al-Nassr lost 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the semifinal of the AFC Champions League Elite in Jeddah on Wednesday, denying them the chance to take on Al-Ahli in an all-Saudi final on Saturday.
The Japanese side took the lead after just 10 minutes in spectacular fashion after Marcinho gained possession on the left side of the area and scooped a cross into the six-yard box. The ball was headed clear by Mohammed Simakan but only as far as Tatsuya Ito, who volleyed a delicious shot into the top corner of the net.
The goal came against run of play but Al-Nassr kept pushing and probing, and they were rewarded just two minutes before the half-hour mark. Sadio Mane cut in from the left side of the area and the shot from the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star took a deflection as it bounced into the back of the net.
Al-Nassr continued to attack. Ronaldo headed against the woodwork and then, after 40 minutes, Jhon Duran’s fierce shot flew just wide of the post from a good position.
The Colombian was left to rue the miss when, four minutes before the break, Kawasaki restored their lead. A shot by Ito was saved by Bento but the ball bounced into the path of Yuto Ozeki, who fired home from just inside the area.
Kawasaki did not sit back in the second half and should have extended their lead but Brazilian forward Erison somehow failed to get on the end of a low cross with the goal at his mercy.
In the 76th minute he redeemed himself, however, as he skipped past Aymeric Laporte on the byline and squared the ball to Akihiro Ienaga, who tapped home from the closest of ranges to make it 3-1.
It seemed as if that would be that but with three minutes remaining Al-Nassr pulled a goal back when Ayman Yahya fired a shot into the top corner from outside the area.
Soon after, Duran had a chance to make it 3-3 from close range but failed to make contact at the crucial moment. There was still time after that for a Ronaldo free-kick to be saved by the legs of Louis Yamaguchi before the referee blew for full time.
Kawasaki will now face Al-Ahli in the final on Saturday, again at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
