Al-Qadsia player attempts to score during a league match against Kuwait Club.

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 8: Al-Qadsia will wrap up its preparations this evening ahead of its crucial clash with Iraq’s Zakho, scheduled for tomorrow at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, in the fifth round of Group A of the 2025–2026 Gulf Club Champions League.

Al-Qadsia enters the match with no option but to win, as it sits third in the group with four points. Zakho has already booked its place in the semifinals and leads the standings with 10 points, followed by Al Ain of the UAE in second place with six points, while Bahrain’s Sitra is bottom with two points.

The team has been hit by several absences in recent matches, including Abdulaziz Wadi, Khaled Sabah, Ahmed Al-Yahya, and Ali Jaragh. In response, head coach Nabil Maaloul has relied on some young players who have impressed, among them Abdullah Al-Awadhi, Abdullah Al-Ghaniman, Ahmed Boudi, and Abdullah Mutawa, who recently returned from injury.

Meanwhile, the medical staff is working to have Yousef Al-Haqqan fit for the encounter after he missed last Friday’s Zain Premier League match against Kuwait Club.

Maaloul underlined the importance of the Zakho fixture, pointing out that Al-Qadsia’s performances have improved with the return of injured players and the addition of new foreign signings.

Speaking after the match against Kuwait Club, Maaloul said Al-Qadsia would “compete for titles in every tournament until the final whistle.” He also expressed frustration over refereeing decisions in that game, claiming a clear penalty was denied and that the referee failed to send off Zakho’s Malik Zola for a foul on Mahdi Humaidan as the last defender, decisions he felt altered the outcome of the match.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff