Latest news with #AlShabab
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Al Shabab's Musab Al-Juwair named Saudi Pro League's Best Young Player
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Musab Al-Juwair, the rising star of Al Shabab, has been named the Best Young Player of the 2024–25 Roshn Saudi Pro League season, capping off a standout campaign that established him as one of the most promising talents in Saudi football. At just 20 years old, Al-Juwair broke into Al Shabab's starting lineup and quickly became a key contributor. The midfielder played a pivotal role in his team's attacking play, directly contributing to 15 goals through both scoring and assists. His performances were marked by composure, vision, and maturity well beyond his age, earning him the league's Best Young Player of the Month award eight times over the course of the season. The Saudi Pro League made the announcement with a celebratory video on its official social media platforms, highlighting the midfielder's growth and impact throughout the campaign.
Observer
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Al Ghafri hits brace as Oman outclass Niger in friendly
MUSCAT, May 21 Oman national football team outclassed Niger team 4-1 in a friendly game on Tuesday as apart of the underway domestic camp in Muscat to gear up for the two remaining fixtures in the Fifa World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers. The closed-door match, arranged upon the recommendation of both teams' technical staff, featured five goals including four goals for Oman team scored by rising talent Tariq al Saadi who opened the scoring with a penalty in the 25th minute, followed by a brace from Mohammed al Ghafri (45', 46') and a penalty goal from Mohsin al Ghassani in the 86th minute. The first half concluded with Oman leading 3-1, before Ghassani sealed the win in the second half. The second half saw seven substitutions, offering valuable minutes to several squad members including goalkeeper of Al Shabab club AbdulMalik al Badri, Hatim al Roushdi, Yousef al Malki, Ahed al Mashakheyi, Hussain al Shahri, Issa al Naabi, and Mohammed Abdulhakeem. The fixture allowed the coaching staff to focus on improving offensive coordination and reinforcing defensive structures, as well as enhancing player synergy across all lines. Head coach Rasheed Jaber, along with his assistant Yaqoob al Sabahi, used the match as a platform to assess player readiness and fine-tune the squad ahead of the critical qualifiers against Jordan on June 5 in Muscat, and against Palestine on June 10 in Jordan. On the other side, the Oman head coach called up goalkeeper Ahmed al Rawahi and Motasim al Wahaibi to cover the absence of injured Ibrahim al Mukhaini following confirmation from the medical team that Al Mukhaini has sustained a finger injury on his left hand. He is expected to undergo a four-week recovery period under full medical supervision. Oman currently sit in fourth place in their group with 10 points from eight matches, trailing group leaders South Korea by six points with two rounds remaining. The Red Warriors are determined to capitalise on their recent momentum and aim for two decisive victories to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
Arab News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
SPL champions-elect Al-Ittihad beat Al-Shabab 3-2 in last away game of the season
RIYADH: In their first match since clinching the Saudi Pro League title last week, Al-Ittihad celebrated with a 3-2 win at Al-Shabab on Tuesday, their final away game of the season. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport French winger Moussa Diaby took center stage, scoring two memorable goals that put the champions-elect in control, the first of which came in the opening minute. The former Aston Villa player, who arrived in Jeddah last summer, picked up possession on the right wing, cut inside the area and then, from a tight angle, fired an unstoppable shot into the opposite top corner. His second, just after the half-hour mark, was delightful in its simplicity. Steven Bergwijn, still inside his own half, lifted the ball over the Riyadh defense to Diaby, who in turn lifted it over the goalkeeper, who was stranded outside his area. Al-Shabab hit back in added time before the break through Yannick Carrasco, who controlled a Musab Al-Juwayr cross at the far post and fired home from close range. Just before the hour mark, however, Bergwijn restored Al-Ittihad's two-goal cushion. As the visitors streamed forward on the counter, N'Golo Kante fed the Dutchman on the left side, who produced another fine finish with a first-time shot. That was not quite the end of the matter, though. Midway through the second half, Cristian Guanca made it 3-2, the Argentine heading home from close range after Daniel Podence hung a cross invitingly in the air. Al-Shabab could not get another, however, and so Al-Ittihad recorded a sixth-successive win, which moved them nine points clear of second-place Al-Hilal, who travel to Al-Wehda on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Al-Qadsiah strengthened their grip on third place, and a spot in the AFC Champions League Two, with a 3-1 home victory over relegation battlers Al-Orubah. Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang contributed two late strikes that put him on 17 goals for the season. Julian Quinones delivered the opener, the Mexican marksman's 20th league goal of the campaign. Al-Qadsiah are now four points clear of fourth-place Al-Nassr, who will have a chance to close the gap when they play host to Al-Khaleej on Wednesday, after which there will be just one round of games left to play.
Jordan Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Jordan condemns terrorist attack on Somali military camp
Doctors and nurses treat injure youth at the Somali Sudanese Hospital in Mogadishu on May 18, 2025 (AFP photo) AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned the 'terrorist' attack that targeted the Somali army's Damaanyo camp in the capital, Mogadishu, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah reiterated Jordan's full solidarity with Somalia in confronting the 'heinous act', stressing the Kingdom's rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilising security and stability. Qudah extended condolences to the government and people of Somalia, as well as to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a swift recovery, according to a ministry statement. Several people were killed and others wounded when a suicide bomber, thought to be from the Al-Shabab militant group, targeted an army recruitment centre in Mogadishu on Sunday, Somali authorities and witnesses said, according to AFP. The attacker, disguised as a civilian, detonated explosives outside the XeroDamaayo camp in southern Mogadishu at 9:20 am (0620 GMT), the information ministry said. "Casualties have been reported, but details are still being verified," the ministry said. "Security forces are on the scene and have launched an investigation." Islamist militant group Al Shabab, which is linked to Al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the bombing. "The Mujahidin carried out an explosion targeting apostates who stayed in front of XeroDamaayo in Mogadishu's Hodon district. They were enlisting to join the forces," the group said. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and casualties near the blast site. Adan Yare, a Tuktuk driver who was passing close to the area, said the road had been crowded with civilians when the explosion occurred, with people waiting to enter the military camp. "I was very lucky because when the explosion occurred, I had already driven past the area. "The explosion shook my Tuktuk and when I stopped and looked back, there were several people lying (on the ground), some of them dead and others wounded," he said. Another witness, Saalim Nur, said he saw the bodies of five civilians. "I was in a minibus. We were about a few hundred metres away from the scene when the explosion occurred. "The whole area has become rubble, with stones and sand flying," he said. Somalia has suffered a resurgence of attacks by Al Shabab in recent months. The group, which is fighting to overthrow the government, has intensified its campaign in the impoverished and climate-vulnerable country. In March, Al Shabab claimed responsibility for a bomb that narrowly missed the presidential convoy in Mogadishu, and in April, militants fired mortar shells near the capital's airport.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
UN peacekeeping force: Standing between war and peace
The Trump administration recently unveiled a controversial proposal to stop all US support for UN's peacekeeping operations—a drastic step that could profoundly undermine global stability. The memo, leaked to the media, proposes sweeping cuts to the US state department budget and a complete withdrawal of American financial support, currently with $1.2 billion in dues, from the UN's peacekeeping budget. While the proposal still requires congressional approval, the implications are stark. Since its formal inception in 1948, UN peacekeeping missions have become one of the most vital and cost-effective tools to manage conflicts and promote stability around the world. It is not only about deploying soldiers to conflict zones; it represents a multi-dimensional approach to peacebuilding that addresses the political, economic and social dimensions of post-conflict recovery. These operations are designed to support peace agreements, maintain ceasefires, disarm combatants and protect vulnerable populations. Over the past several decades, this model has proven particularly effective in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire, all of which suffered from devastating civil wars in the early 2000s. Over 68,000 personnel are currently deployed across 11 UN peace operations. Most peacekeepers come from developing countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Rwanda and Nigeria. Wealthier nations, especially the US, provide the bulk of funding. The US alone contributes 27 percent of the $5.6 billion annual peacekeeping budget—an investment that has historically garnered bipartisan support in Washington. Defunding peacekeeping could lead to the collapse or curtailment of critical missions in South Sudan, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cuts at this time could initiate a domino effect, prompting other donor nations to withdraw support, jeopardising fragile peace in many regions. The situation in Somalia offers a stark warning. The country remains embroiled in a deadly struggle with Al Shabab, a jihadist group affiliated with Al Qaeda. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is a critical player in maintaining a fragile peace. However, a UN Security Council resolution proposing a hybrid funding model to support AUSSOM has faced US opposition. The Trump administration's scepticism stems from concerns such as Somalia's governance and the cost implications for UN member states. But inaction carries a much higher price. Al Shabab has intensified attacks, including a March 2025 ambush targeting the Somali president's convoy. According to General Michael Langley of US Africa Command, the group is expanding ties with the Iran-backed Houthis, threatening international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This worry is not limited to East Africa. Peacekeeping failure in the DRC could open the door for M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, to advance on the capital, Kinshasa—a potential regional catastrophe in a country rich in minerals critical to global supply chains. In South Sudan, the absence of peacekeepers could result in widespread civilian massacres amid ethnic tensions. And in Lebanon, without the UN interim force monitoring the ceasefire, conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could reignite and escalate into a regional war. While acknowledging past failures, such as the inability to prevent genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia in the 1990s, the track record of UN peacekeeping over the past 25 years underscores its immense value. Missions in Haiti, Timor-Leste and Kosovo helped stabilise countries on the brink of collapse. In Cyprus, a relatively small force has prevented two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey, from reigniting a decades-old conflict. The proposed cuts are strategically reckless. While the peacekeeping budget represents a small fraction of the US defence budget, its returns in terms of global stability and prevention of larger-scale conflicts are invaluable. The Trump administration's parallel proposal to establish a $2.1-billion 'America First Opportunities Fund' as an alternative source of foreign assistance lacks the multilateral legitimacy, scope and infrastructure of UN peacekeeping. Selective bilateral aid cannot replace the systematic, rules-based engagement that UN missions offer. By disengaging from multilateral peace operations, America is sending the wrong message to the world. Following the Second World War, the US helped build a system of international cooperation designed to prevent the very types of conflicts that devastated the 20th century. Walking away from that system now would not only betray that legacy but also invite greater instability, humanitarian disaster and even new wars. The US Congress still has a chance to act. It can reject the cuts and reaffirm US commitment to global peace. In the end, the Trump administration must understand that slashing peacekeeping may save money in the short term, but the long-term costs—humanitarian crises, mass displacement, new insurgencies and possible military entanglements—will far outweigh the short-term benefits. The US must choose between retreating from global responsibility and inviting chaos and continuing its tradition of leading the world. The former path will lead to more conflict, while the latter offers a chance to uphold a system that, while imperfect, has preserved peace and saved lives across the globe. E D Mathew | Former UN spokesperson, participated in peacekeeping missions in Timor-Leste and Liberia (Views are personal)
