12-04-2025
Al-Arabi faces key absences ahead of Challenge Cup semifinal second leg
KUWAIT CITY, April 12: Al-Arabi will be without key player Khalid Al-Murshid for its upcoming match against Turkmenistan's Arkadag next Wednesday in the second leg of the AFC Challenge Cup semi-final.
Al-Murshid picked up an injury during recent training and will not be part of coach Nasser Al-Shatti's plans for the match. Additionally, Badr Tariq will also miss the game due to injury.
The Al-Arabi delegation arrived in Turkmenistan last evening, led by board member Ismail Al-Habib, and will hold its first training session this evening.
Complicating travel plans, the Turkmenistan Civil Aviation Authority denied permission for the delegation to travel via a direct flight or private plane. As a result, Al-Arabi announced on its official "X" platform account that the team would travel to Turkmenistan via a connecting flight through Dubai, UAE, after the original plan was blocked.
The club also mentioned that it would explore the possibility of returning the team on a private plane for its return journey.
It's important to note that the Al-Arabi delegation was initially scheduled to depart Kuwait today on a private flight.
In the first leg of the semi-final at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium, Al-Arabi secured a 2-0 victory over Arkadag, with Nigerian forward Christopher John scoring the opening goal in the 71st minute, followed by Salman Al-Awadhi's strike in the third minute of stoppage time.
