Al-Ahli crowned SAFF Women's Cup champions in thriller at Kingdom Arena
RIYADH: Defending champions Al-Ahli beat Al-Qadsiah 2-1 in the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Women's Cup final on Wednesday, in a game that lived up to all the pre-match hype.
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Al-Ahli produced a remarkable comeback to secure a second consecutive cup victory at Kingdom Arena.
Goals from Congo international Naomie KabaKaba and Moroccan captain Ibtissam Jraidi saw the Jeddah club edge past Al-Qadsiah in an end-to-end contest.
The 2025 final comes during a historic season of growth for women's football in Saudi Arabia.
Fans had also responded positively to the SAFF's #SeeOurGlory campaign tying into the showpiece match.
In a fast start to the match, Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Lindsey Harris was forced into action early with several fine saves, denying KabaKaba from close range.
Harris' early stops provided Al-Qadsiah the platform to grow into the final, as Saudi Arabia star Rahaf Al-Mansouri opened the score midway through the first half from a corner.
The 2024 cup winners would tie the score just before the break with a deflected strike from KabaKaba.
An early second half header from captain Jraidi saw the Jeddah club take and hold onto the lead, sealing a second cup in successive seasons for Manar Fraij's side.
Jraidi said: 'We're delighted to secure this cup and for me to win the top scorer award. Honestly, it's a stunning stadium with an incredible atmosphere. We truly appreciate SAFF for its outstanding organization of this event.'
Fraij was proud of her team's comeback in a tense final. 'An incredible achievement for the team. We worked on the mentality of the players, and we believed in the players' unwavering determination.
'Regardless of scoring first or conceding first, we remained focused and consistent until the final whistle. The players deserve this,' said Fraij.
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