Latest news with #ZainFirstDivisionLeague
Arab Times
6 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
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.
Arab Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Final day drama in Zain First Division: Al-Jahra crowned, who takes second?
KUWAIT CITY, May 17: Al-Jahra will officially be crowned champions of the Zain First Division League tonight when they face Sulaibikhat at 7:10 PM in the 20th and final round of the season. Simultaneously, Burgan will take on Al-Sahel in a decisive match at Al-Shabab Stadium. Al-Jahra secured the league title and promotion to the Zain Premier League after defeating Al-Sahel 2-0 last in Round 19, raising its tally to 25 points and making tonight's match a celebratory outing. The battle for second place—and a potential promotion opportunity—remains intense. Al-Shabab, currently with 22 points, is not playing this round but will be watching closely. It needs Al-Jahra to either draw or defeat Sulaibikhat to maintain its second-place position. Sulaibikhat, with 20 points, enters the match with a win-or-go-home mentality, knowing that only a victory will keep its hopes alive. Meanwhile, Burgan, on 19 points, is technically still in contention. A win combined with a Sulaibikhat loss or draw would see them finish level with Al-Shabab at 22 points—but Al-Shabab holds the edge in head-to-head results, giving it the tiebreaker advantage.
Arab Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Jahra aims for Zain Premier League return with crucial clash against Al-Sahel
KUWAIT CITY, May 14: Al-Jahra will seek to secure promotion to the Zain Premier League when it faces Al-Sahel tonight at 7:10 pm at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Stadium, in Round 19 of the Zain First Division League. In a second fixture, Al-Shabab hosts Burgan in Ahmadi at 8:15 pm, while Al-Sulaibikhat has a bye this round. Al-Jahra currently leads the standings with 22 points, two ahead of second-placed Al-Sulaibikhat (20 points), while Al-Shabab and Burgan are tied in third with 19 points. Al-Sahel sits at the bottom of the table with just 12 points and is already out of the promotion race. A win tonight would mathematically guarantee Al-Jahra's promotion to the top flight, regardless of their upcoming final-round clash with Al-Sulaibikhat on Sunday. With one match in hand compared to their direct competitors, the 'Sons of the Red Palace' are in the driver's seat. Al-Jahra enters the match as the strong favorite, given the significant gap in form and motivation between the two teams. Al-Sahel, having lost its competitive edge, has little left to play for. Al-Jahra also boasts a perfect record this season against the 'Sons of Abu Halifa,' winning all three previous encounters (1-0 twice and 3-1 once). In the second game, Al-Shabab faces a must-win scenario to keep its promotion hopes alive. Even with a victory, the team's fate hinges on favorable results in the final round, especially from matches involving Al-Sulaibikhat vs. Al-Jahra and Burgan vs. Al-Sahel. Burgan remains a strong contender for a promotion spot, thanks to its two remaining matches, unlike Al-Sulaibikhat and Al-Shabab. A win over Al-Shabab would significantly boost their chances, while a draw would delay their hopes to the final round.
Arab Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Three-way tie in Zain First Division League after round 17
KUWAIT CITY, May 8: After the conclusion of the 17th round of the Zain First Division League, three teams—Al-Shabab, Burgan, and Al-Jahra—are locked in a tie at the top of the standings with 19 points each. In this round, Al-Shabab played to a goalless draw with Al-Sahel, while Burgan settled for a 2-2 draw against Al-Sulaibikhat. Al-Jahra did not play this round, giving its rivals a chance to pull ahead—an opportunity neither Al-Shabab nor Burgan could capitalize on. Burgan, in particular, was most affected by the outcome, having now played one more match than its direct competitors with just four rounds remaining in the league. Meanwhile, Al-Sulaibikhat, sitting in fourth place with 17 points, kept its hopes alive for one of the two coveted promotion spots to the Premier League. Al-Sahel, however, remains at the bottom of the table with 12 points and is now officially out of contention for promotion.
