Salmiya and Al-Shabab seek winning starts against Al-Nasr, Al-Jahra

25/08/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 25: Al-Shabab and Al-Jahra will meet in the opening round of the Zain Premier League today at 6:45 p.m., while Salmiya takes on Al-Nasr at Thamer Stadium at 9 p.m.

The opening fixture brings together two teams looking to put last season’s struggles behind them. Al-Shabab and Al-Jahra finished ninth and 10th, respectively, and narrowly avoided relegation after the Kuwait Football Association expanded the Premier League to 12 teams.

Al-Shabab has undergone a major rebuild, turning to Brazilian coach Wagner Andrade and bringing in five Brazilian players — Marcos Lima, Matheus Toto, Marcos Martinelli, Giovanni Silva and Michel Angel — as part of a bid to improve on last season’s performance.

Al-Jahra has taken a different approach, retaining national coach Ahmed Abdulkarim and largely maintaining stability within the squad. Their foreign contingent includes Cameroonians Chirst Afelana and Takamba Nassam, Brazilians Marcos Ramos and Rorima Monte Lucenio, and Ghanaian Evans Mbofu.

Salmiya will aim to begin the season strongly under Bahraini coach Ali Ashour as they target a better campaign after finishing fifth last season.

The “Sky Blues” have reshaped their foreign contingent, signing Tresor Chibioabua of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uzbekistan’s Shahzod Azmiddinov, Bahrain’s Abdullah Yusuf, and Gabon’s David Sambissa. Syrian player Mahmoud Al-Aswad is the only foreign player retained from last season.

Al-Nasr has also made several changes, including a new coaching appointment and adjustments to its foreign and local squads. The club finished sixth last season and will be targeting a stronger campaign.

Coach Thaher Al-Adwani has returned to take charge after leading Al-Yarmouk last season.

Al-Nasr’s new foreign signings are Tunisia’s Hazem Haj, Mali’s Moriba Diarra, Sudan’s Abdulrahman Koko, Algeria’s Aymen Lakjaa and Mauritania’s Sidi Yacoub.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff