Qadsia holds final training session ahead of key clash.

ABU DHABI, Feb 17: Qadsia Club faces a defining night in its Gulf Champions League campaign as it takes on Al Ain FC at 9:30 pm at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in the sixth and final round of the group stage. Simultaneously, Sitra Club meets Zakho SC in a match with no bearing on qualification.

The equation is simple for Qadsia: victory is the only option. The Kuwaiti side sits third with seven points, two behind second-placed Al Ain, which needs just a draw to advance. Zakho leads the group with 10 points and has already secured its spot in the next round, while Sitra was eliminated in the previous round and remains at the bottom with two points.

Qadsia’s campaign began with a 3-1 loss to Zakho, followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Al Ain. A goalless draw with Sitra came next, before back-to-back 1-0 wins over Sitra and Zakho revived its qualification hopes.

Under Tunisian coach Nabil Maaloul, Qadsia has enjoyed a strong run domestically. It recently clinched the Super Cup after a dramatic 4-3 comeback victory over Al Arabi SC in the semifinal, and then edged Kuwait Club 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final.

Despite the cup success, Qadsia is out of the title race in the Kuwait Premier League for the ninth consecutive season. It currently occupies third place with 22 points, trailing leader Kuwait Club by 11 points with 10 rounds remaining.

Defensively, the team will miss Algerian center-back Sofiane Bouchar due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards. Maaloul is expected to pair Yousef Al-Haqan with Khaled Ibrahim in central defense, while Khaled Sabah stands ready if needed. The likely lineup mirrors recent matches, with Rashid Al-Dosari and Moath Al-Dhafiri in defense; Abdullah Moutawa, Athbi Shehab, Mubarak Al-Faneeni, and Neeskens Kebano in midfield; Mbengue Ablaye and Mehdi Humaidan leading the attack; and Hamid Al-Qallaf guarding the net. Experienced options such as Bader Al-Mutawa, Abdullah Al-Awadhi, Abdullah Al-Ghaniman, Tayeb Meziani, and Talal Al-Fadhel provide depth off the bench.

Qadsia is fully aware of the challenge ahead. Al Ain tops the UAE league table without defeat after 16 rounds, recording 11 wins and five draws.

The match will be overseen by a Saudi officiating crew led by Mohammed Al-Samaeel, assisted by Ibrahim Al-Dakhil and Saad Al-Subaie. Oman’s Mohammed Al-Manai will serve as the fourth official, while Mohammed Al-Huwaish and Faisal Al-Qahtani will handle VAR duties.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff