Al-Qadsia set its sights on victory against Zakho

09/02/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 9: Al-Qadsia will be determined to secure a crucial victory when it hosts Iraq’s Zakho at 8:00 pm today at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, in the fifth round of Group A of the 2025–2026 Gulf Clubs Champions League.

In the same group, the UAE side Al Ain visit Bahrain’s Sitra at 6:00 pm.

Zakho has already clinched the first semifinal berth, leading the group with 10 points, while the second spot remains wide open among Al Ain (6 points), Al-Qadsia (4 points), and Sitra (2 points).

Al-Qadsia heads into today’s clash looking to achieve more than one objective. It is keen to avenge its 3–1 defeat in the first leg, a match in which it had taken the lead before Zakho mounted a comeback, and it also aims to keep its semifinal hopes alive.

The “Yellows” are enjoying a strong run of form and stability. They recently lifted the Super Cup after edging Al-Arabi 4–3 in the semifinals and then defeating Kuwait Club on penalties (4–3) following a 1–1 draw in the final. They also shared a 1–1 draw with Kuwait Club last Friday in the 13th round of the Zain Premier League, leaving them third in the standings, two points behind second-placed Al-Arabi.

Despite the absence of several players, including Abdulaziz Wadi, Khaled Sabah, Ahmed Al-Yahya, and Ali Jaragh, head coach Nabil Maaloul still has a wealth of options capable of delivering the result. Key names include Bader Al-Mutawa, Mubarak Al-Fanaini, Rashid Al-Dossary, Moaz Al-Dhafiri, Athbi Shehab, and Khaled Ibrahim, alongside foreign professionals Mehdi Humaidan (Bahrain), Abilay (Nigeria), Sofiane Bouchard and Tayeb Mzianni (Algeria), and Neeskens Kebano (DR Congo), as well as promising youngsters Abdullah Al-Awadi, Abdullah Al-Ghaniman, and Abdullah Mutawa.

Zakho, meanwhile, arrives amid a period of instability, with a noticeable dip in form in the Iraqi league. It currently sits eighth with 27 points, 10 points adrift of leader Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya after 17 rounds.

These results prompted the club to part ways with Qatari coach Wissam Rizk, appointing Iraqi assistant Mohammed Nomi as interim head coach. Several names have been linked with the role, including Syrians Firas Al-Khatib of Al-Fahaheel and Nizar Mahrous, as well as Iraqis Ayoub Odisho and Adnan Hamad.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff