Little at stake as Al-Arabi concludes AFC Cup campaign against Al-Nejmeh

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 11: Al-Arabi will conclude its AFC Cup campaign as it faces the Al-Nejmeh at 7:00 pm at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in the sixth round of the second group competitions. The match holds little importance as both teams have lost the opportunity to compete for qualification.

Al-Arabi currently holds third place with only 5 points, trailing behind Al-Zawraa of Iraq (8 points), while Al-Riffa of Bahrain leads the standings with 13 points and secures a spot in the finals. Al-Nejmeh occupies the last place with only 3 points.

The qualification format includes 3 groups, with the top team from each group and the best second-placed team advancing to the semi-finals of the West Asia region.

Al-Arabi initially performed well in the tournament, securing a 2-1 victory against Al-Zawraa. However, its performance declined in subsequent rounds, drawing with the weakest team in the group, Al-Nejmeh, in the second round, and suffering defeats against Al-Riffa in the third and fourth rounds (3-0 and 2-1, respectively). The team’s campaign concluded with a 1-1 draw against Al-Zawraa in the fifth round.

With the AFC Cup’s outcome already determined, Bosnian coach Darko Nestorovic, who took over from German Thomas Berdaric, has an opportunity to provide young players with experience and showcase their potential. This move aims to prepare them for upcoming competitions in the current season.

Despite recent challenges, Al-Arabi is leading the Zain Premier League standings with 20 points, edging out defending champion Kuwait. The team is set to defend its Crown Prince Cup title against Al-Shabab in the quarter-finals at the end of December.

Injuries and suspension penalties have affected Al-Arabi, with players like Hussein Ashkanani, Salman Al-Awadhi, Saif Al-Hashan, Sultan Al-Anazi, and Suleiman Abdul Ghafour facing setbacks. However, the team is adapting to these challenges as it progresses positively in domestic competitions.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 396 times!