Al Wahda ends season in third after 3-1 victory over Al Bataeh
Al Wahda secures third place and AFC Champions League spot
With this victory, Al Wahda concluded the season in third place with 48 points, earning a spot in the AFC Champions League. Al Bataeh finished the season in 11th place with 27 points.
Key goals seal the win
Al Wahda's goals came from Ahmed Nourallah, who scored twice in the 11th and 43rd minutes, and Omar Khribin, who added a goal in the 21st minute. Al Bataeh's lone goal was scored by Alvaro de Oliveira in the 23rd minute.
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The National
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- The National
History beckons for UAE as Cosmin Olaroiu arrives with World Cup qualification teasingly close
In a region where football fans are so highly skilled at tifos, the one Sharjah's fans made to see off their coach in his last match was pleasingly rudimentary. Not for them the elaborate choreographies of the giant Saudi Arabian clubs, or even their UAE Pro League counterparts – and visitors on the last day of the season – Al Wasl. Instead, they went for the tried and trusted option of some black emulsion on a big white sheet. It was the thought that counted, though, and the language used. ' Ai parasit echipa, dar alintrat in istorie,' Sharjah's fans had written, using the manager's mother tongue of Romanian. Translated, it means: You left the team but you made history. He certainly did that. Cosmin Olaroiu capped a trophy laden stint at the club by taking them to the AFC Champions League Two title in Singapore in May. That made them just the second club from the UAE – after two-time Champions League winners Al Ain – to lift a major continental title. A little over two weeks later, Olaroiu is on the brink of history again, and he has not even taken charge of his new side yet. Once the powers-that-be had decided to dismiss Paulo Bento as coach of the UAE national team back in March, there only ever felt like one viable option. Bento's side had just kept alive their chances of automatic World Cup qualification at the very last in Riyadh. But Sultan Adil's late, late stoppage time winner over North Korea still failed to save the Portuguese coach's job. The following morning, it was announced he was gone, despite there just being two matches left in this phase of Asian qualifying. The UAE trail second-placed Uzbekistan, who they face at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, by four points, with six still to play for. Win, and they would need to better whatever result the Uzbeks achieve at home to Qatar on Tuesday when they face Kyrgyzstan at the same time to qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup. 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The National
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World Cup 2026: Can UAE qualify automatically if they beat Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan?
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The National
29-05-2025
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid congratulates Shabab Al Ahli on historic season
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, hosted the management, players and staff of Shabab Al Ahli in recognition of their stellar 2024/25 campaign. The Dubai club enjoyed success on four fronts, capturing their ninth UAE Pro League title, the UAE President's Cup for the 11th time, the UAE Super Cup and the UAE-Qatar Super Cup. Led by their Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa, the squad attended the ceremony at Zabeel Palace on Thursday and showed off their impressive haul of silverware. Sheikh Mohammed congratulated the players, technical and administrative staff, as well as board members on a historic season. Addressing the players, he commended their determination and team spirit, noting that while winning the league was a significant achievement, maintaining that position is the greater challenge. Sheikh Mohammed joined members of the team for a commemorative photo, encouraging them to sustain their high performance and expressing confidence in their ability to represent the UAE in continental competitions next season. As domestic champions, Shabab Al Ahli qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite. The reception was also attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai. Inspired by Sousa's arrival, Shabab Al Ahli coasted to the league title, finishing 13 points ahead of closest challengers Sharjah. They won 19 of their 26 games, drawing six and losing just once. President's Cup glory came in May at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi as rivals Sharjah were edged out 2-1. Yuri Cesar scored either side of half time after Marcos Meloni had put Sharjah in front with a 14th-minute strike. 'It really was momentous for the club, fans, players and also for me in my first season,' Sousa said after the game. 'Personally, I couldn't have wished for a better first season here. Full credit to my staff and the players who gave everything on the pitch and for the fans who stood behind us at every game.' The club narrowly missed out on making it five titles in one season when they were beaten 2-1 by Al Jazira in the final of the ADIB League Cup.
