Latest news with #CrownPrinceCup
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi face off again in Amir Cup final
KUWAIT CITY, May 31: Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi have once again secured their places in the Amir Cup final, scheduled for June 16, marking their third final encounter this season. The two teams previously faced off in the Crown Prince Cup final, where Kuwait Club edged out Al-Arabi 1-0. They also met in the decisive match of the Zain Premier League's final round, with Kuwait Club winning 2-1, securing both titles and denying Al-Arabi the chance for a double. Kuwait Club aims to cap off the season by winning the Amir Cup, having already claimed the Super Cup. Meanwhile, Al-Arabi is chasing its first title of the season and looks to reclaim the Amir Cup, which has eluded them for five consecutive seasons. Kuwait Club President Khaled Al-Ghanim announced the signing of international goalkeeper Khaled Al-Rashidi on a three-season contract. Al-Rashidi, who previously played for Al-Arabi and Al-Salmiya, joins the team ahead of the new season. Following Kuwait Club's 1-0 victory over Al-Qadsiya in the tournament's semi-finals—achieved despite playing most of the match with ten men—Al-Ghanim praised the squad's determination and performance, stating, 'The players proved worthy of our trust.' Al-Arabi Club Chairman Abdulaziz Ashour rewarded each player with a 1,000 dinar bonus after their 1-0 semi-final victory over Al-Salmiya, thanks to a goal by Bahraini forward Kamil Al-Aswad. Ashour expressed gratitude for the players' efforts, noting the win secured their place in the final. He confirmed that the players are under long-term contracts, emphasizing the club's commitment to their continued service. Regarding the contract status of coach Nasser Al-Shatti, Ashour stated, 'The board will convene soon to decide the best course of action.'
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi hopes to end the season on a high in the Amir Cup semifinal
KUWAIT CITY, May 29: Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium will host the highly anticipated Amir Cup semifinal between Al-Arabi and Al-Salmiya tonight at 8:30. The two sides have faced each other three times this season in the Zain Premier League, with Al-Arabi holding the edge, winning twice (3-1 and 3-2) and drawing once (1-1). Despite the familiarity between the teams, tonight's knockout encounter promises a fresh intensity with a spot in the final on the line. Neither team had an easy journey to the semifinal stage, despite facing clubs from the Zain First Division League. Al-Arabi was pushed to the limit in the preliminary round by Al-Sulaibikhat, eventually advancing via penalty shootout (4-3) after a 2-2 draw in regular time. It then edged past Al-Jahra 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Al-Salmiya also struggled early on, narrowly beating Sahel—the bottom team in the First Division—2-1 in its opening match before overcoming Al-Nasr 3-1 to secure the semifinal berth. Under head coach Nasser Al-Shatti, Al-Arabi enters the semifinal determined to salvage its season after missing out on both the league title and the Crown Prince Cup. The Greens are eager to cap the campaign with silverware and see the Amir Cup as its final shot. Al-Shatti will rely on a talented squad led by standout players such as Bahraini international Kamil Al-Aswad, Nigerian striker Emmanuel Iwala, and a strong supporting cast including Ali Khalaf, Hassan Hamdan, Jumaa Aboud, Soufiane Bouchar, Hamza Khaba, Bandar Al-Salama, Hamad Al-Qallaf, Ali Aziz, and Hussein Ashkanani. Al-Salmiya, led by Croatian coach Ante Miša, is looking to reach the final after falling just short last season against Al-Qadsiya. Having been outperformed by Al-Arabi in their league meetings this year, the Sky Blues are motivated to turn the tables in the Amir Cup. Miša will count on a balanced lineup featuring key players such as Fawaz Ayed, Alex Lima, Amr Midani, Mahdi Dashti, Mohammed Al-Huwaidi, Al-Sanousi Al-Hadi, Sang Pierre, Moaz Al-Aseema, Emad Al-Lawati, and Issa Walid. With both teams hungry for success and redemption, fans can expect a fiercely contested battle as the Amir Cup nears its dramatic conclusion.
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qadsia targets Amir Cup final as Kuwait Club eyes historic quadruple
KUWAIT CITY, May 28: Soccer fans are eagerly anticipating the highly awaited 'Classico between Al-Qadsia and Kuwait Club at 8:30 pm at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in the semi-finals of the Amir Cup today. The other semifinal will see Al-Arabi face Al-Salmiya on Friday, also at 8:30 pm at the same venue. Kuwait Club reached this stage by defeating Al-Jazeera 3-0 in the preliminary round and edging Khaitan 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Al-Qadsia advanced after a 3-2 win over Burgan in the preliminaries, followed by a dominant 3-0 victory against Al-Fahaheel in the quarters. This will be the fourth face-off between the two rivals this season. In the Zain Premier League, Kuwait Club claimed two victories (3-1 and 1-0), while Al-Qadsia earned a 2-1 win. The two also met in the Super Cup final, where Kuwait Club lifted the trophy after a 1-1 draw and a 7-6 penalty shootout victory. Having already won the league, Crown Prince Cup, and Super Cup, Kuwait Club aims to complete a remarkable season by reaching the final and securing a fourth trophy. Coach Nebojsa Jovovic acknowledges the challenge, noting Al-Qadsia's recent form improvement and determination to defend their title. He will rely on a strong squad featuring: Meshari Ghannam, Yahya Jabran, Yousef Nasser, Ali Hussein, Reda Hani, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Amin Abu Al-Fath, Mohammed Marhoon, Mohammed Daham, and Ahmed Al-Zanki. Reigning champion Al-Qadsia is determined to end the season on a high, return to the final, and defend its Amir Cup crown. Despite a rough patch earlier in the season, the team rebounded with an impressive quarter-final win over Al-Fahaheel, who had recently beaten it 7-4 in league play. Coach Zeljko Petrovic, whose contract expires on Saturday, hopes to cap off his tenure with a title run, though he hinted at staying on if the team reaches the final. His key players include: Bader Al-Mutawa, Eid Al-Rashidi, Ismail Khafi, Hussein Dahiri, Mubarak Al-Fanini, Abdulaziz Wadi, Khaled Sabah, Al-Mahdi Barahma, Daniel Jibola, and Adhbi Shehab.
Arab Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Salmiya looks to extend dominance over Al-Nasr in Amir Cup quarterfinal
KUWAIT CITY, May 25: The quarterfinal stage of the Amir Cup wraps up this evening with two exciting matchups. Al-Salmiya will take on Al-Nasr at 7:15 pm at Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, while Al-Arabi faces Al-Jahra at 8:15 pm at Thamer Stadium. Al-Salmiya enters tonight's clash looking to revive its season after a disappointing campaign that saw it fall short in the Crown Prince Cup and settle for fourth place in the Zain Premier League. Its path to the quarterfinals was far from easy, edging past Al-Sahel 3-2 in the preliminary round. Despite holding two league victories over Al-Nasr this season—winning 3-1 and 2-1—Al-Salmiya is approaching the cup match with caution. The unpredictability of knockout football was evident in the previous round, where top-tier sides Al-Qadsiya and Al-Arabi struggled to dispatch First Division opponents. Al-Qadsiya narrowly defeated Burgan 3-2, while Al-Arabi needed penalties to overcome Al-Sulaibikhat after a 2-2 draw. Al-Nasr, for its part, is determined to reach the semi-finals and make a strong impression in the tournament. Having battled to remain in the Premier League, finishing second in the relegation group, the team knows tonight's match demands both grit and quality. In the second quarterfinal, Al-Arabi hopes to move past its shaky performance against Al-Sulaibikhat and claim a convincing win to keep its title hopes alive. The Greens are chasing the only remaining domestic trophy after narrowly missing out on the league title and falling to Kuwait Club in the Crown Prince Cup final. Al-Arabi's players are aware that success tonight will require full focus and effort as they aim to cap a competitive season on a high note. Meanwhile, Al-Jahra has emerged as a surprise contender. After eliminating Kazma with a 4-2 victory in the preliminary round, they now aim to extend their strong form. Fresh from topping the First Division and earning promotion to the Premier League, the "Sons of the Red Palace" are hungry for more success. Coach Mohammed Dahilis will be counting on his players to deliver a standout performance as they face one of Kuwait's football heavyweights.
Arab Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi battles Al-Sulaibikhat as Amir Cup preliminary round concludes
KUWAIT CITY, May 22: The preliminary round of the Amir Cup concludes this evening with a rescheduled encounter between Al-Arabi and Al-Sulaibikhat, set to kick off at 7:10 pm at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium. Originally slated for last April, the match was postponed due to Al-Arabi's involvement in the AFC Challenge League semi-finals. Tonight's match holds critical importance for Al-Arabi, who aim to turn the page on a difficult stretch that saw it miss out on two major titles within just eight days. It lost its chance at the Zain Premier League crown after a 2-1 defeat to Kuwait Club in the decisive round on May 11, followed by a narrow loss in the Crown Prince Cup final to Al-Abyad on Monday. The "Green" side enters the match not just seeking victory, but a fresh start. The team hopes to restore confidence, regain momentum, and launch a serious campaign in Kuwait's most prestigious knockout competition, now its last remaining opportunity for silverware this season. On the other side, Al-Sulaibikhat will be hoping to cause an upset and capitalize on Al-Arabi's recent misfortunes. However, its task is formidable. Al-Sulaibikhat recently missed out on promotion to the Zain Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Jahra in the final round of the Zain First Division League. It needed a win to secure promotion, but the result left it in third place, with Al-Shabab advancing instead. In another rescheduled fixture, Al-Qadsia secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Burgan, booking a spot in the Amir Cup quarterfinals where it will face Al-Fahaheel this Sunday. Under the watchful eye of Syrian coach Firas Al-Khatib, the 'Yellows' looked in full control after racing to a 3-0 lead, courtesy of goals from Khaled Sabah (19'), Bader Al-Mutawa (22'), and Ismail Khafi (61'). But Burqan mounted a fierce comeback, with Hamoud Al-Sahli scoring twice (63' and 77') to narrow the gap and apply late pressure. Al-Qadsia nearly paid the price for its defensive complacency, but held on until the final whistle to seal the win. A moment of concern for Al-Qadsia came early in the match when defender Khaled Ibrahim collided with Burgan's Isaac James. Ibrahim was taken to the hospital, underwent medical tests, and has since been cleared to play in Sunday's quarterfinal.
