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Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, in collaboration with Al Sadd Sports Club and with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, held the “Peace Tournament”, a community football event dedicated to children, youth, and Gaza families hosted by the State of Qatar and residing in Al Thumama Complex. The tournament took place on Thursday, 20 November 2025, at 8:00 PM at Al Sadd Sports Club fields.The initiative formed part of the community partnership between Education Above All Foundation and Al Sadd SC, and aligned with EAA’s efforts to enhance the psychosocial well-being of children and youth and to support crisis-affected communities through sports activities that strengthened social cohesion, built bonds of solidarity, and reinforced positive community values.The one-day tournament brought together children, youth, and adults from Gaza across three age groups, following an approach that ensured fair and inclusive participation for all.Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, CEO of Al Sadd Football Club Company: "Al Sadd Club participation in organizing the Peace Tournament, in collaboration with Education Above All Foundation and with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, stems from our social responsibility and our national role in supporting initiatives that strengthen human and community cohesion. We believe that sport, and football in particular, has a unique ability to bring people together, restore hope, and create moments of joy, especially for children and youth who have endured difficult experiences. At Al Sadd Club, we were keen to provide all the necessary resources to ensure the success of this tournament, which we are proud to present as a message of solidarity from Qatar to our brothers and sisters from Gaza who are guests of the country. We will continue to support initiatives that harness the power of sport to serve humanity and promote the values of unity and generosity."On this occasion, Ms. AlAnood Al-Attiyah, Director of the Al Fakhoora Programme at Education Above All Foundation, stated: “At Education Above All, we believe in the transformative power of sport to build confidence, strengthen resilience, and restore hope, especially for communities facing profound humanitarian challenges. This tournament was not merely a sporting activity; it was a safe space that offered children and youth an outlet for expression and an opportunity to build positive relationships that enhanced community cohesion. We were pleased to collaborate with Al Sadd SC and the Ministry of Social Development and Family through initiatives that embody the values of giving, solidarity, and supporting children and youth wherever they may be.”Education Above All Foundation continued its efforts in Qatar and around the world to create safe, inclusive, and supportive educational and social environments for children and youth. Through collaborative partnerships with national, sports, and community institutions, EAA worked to provide equal opportunities for all and contributed to improving the quality of life in the most vulnerable communities.For more information about EAA Foundation, visit www.educationaboveall.orgFor media inquiries, please contact:Mohamed Al-AmriSenior Media Relations [email protected]+974-5000-9960Patience RusareSenior Media [email protected]+974-5993-1560

Roberto Mancini’s arrival at Al Sadd marks a major test not just for the celebrated Italian coach, but also for Qatar’s most decorated football club.For Mancini, who turns 61 at the end of this month, returning to the Gulf barely a year after a turbulent stint with Saudi Arabia represents both a lucrative opportunity and a reputational gamble. He will reportedly earn up to €21mn over two and a half years — a windfall that extends his run as one of world football’s best-paid managers.Al Sadd confirmed the appointment Thursday, announcing that Mancini had signed a two-and-a-half-season deal and sharing photos of him holding the club shirt. “Benvenuto Signor Mancini,” the club posted on social media, using the Italian word for “welcome,” without revealing financial details.Mancini began his managerial career in Italy with Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter Milan. His most successful spell came during his time with Inter, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs between 2004 and 2008.He later managed Manchester City from 2009 to 2013, leading them to FA Cup glory in 2011 and a maiden Premier League title the following season — the club’s first in 44 years. After a second-place finish in 2012–13, Mancini was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini.Further spells followed at Galatasaray and Zenit Saint Petersburg, either side of a second stint at Inter, before he guided Italy to the Euro 2020 title. Yet since that triumph, Mancini’s reputation has waned. His high-profile tenure with Saudi Arabia — launched amid huge fanfare and a reported €30mn-a-year salary — ended after just 14 months following disappointing results in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers. Reports suggest he received around €65mn in compensation after his departure.Linked briefly with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October, Mancini now takes charge of an Al Sadd side that has struggled for consistency this season despite the marquee signing of former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.The Qatari giants — who dismissed Felix Sanchez in October despite winning the league and cup double last term — currently sit sixth in the Qatar Stars League with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of leaders Al Gharafa. In the AFC Champions League Elite, they are 10th in their group and face an uphill battle to reach the knockout rounds.Mancini’s appointment is therefore as much about restoring Al Sadd’s domestic dominance as it is about salvaging his own managerial credibility. The club will expect an immediate turnaround, while Mancini will be eager to prove he can still deliver success outside Europe’s top leagues.A clause reportedly allowing him to leave in 2026 adds intrigue to what is already a bold gamble by both sides. The move also represents a significant coup for the Wolves, who previously rebuilt their project under their former player Xavi Hernandez before the Barcelona legend’s return to Spain. By bringing in Mancini, Al Sadd are once again banking on a high-profile leader to raise standards and reassert their supremacy in Qatar.“This contract comes as part of the club management’s efforts to strengthen the technical staff with distinguished coaching expertise capable of achieving the team’s ambitions and continuing its run of success,” Al Sadd said in a statement Thursday.Hours after signing the contract, Mancini immediately donned the Al Sadd training kit and took charge of his first practice session. His debut match at the helm will be on November 22 at home against Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League. With Al Sadd seeking to climb the table and rediscover their identity, all eyes will be on whether Mancini can spark the kind of revival that once made him one of Europe’s elite managers.

Al Sadd have appointed former Inter Milan and Italy boss Roberto Mancini as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-season deal, the Qatari club announced on Thursday. The 60-year-old Italian returns to management over a year after leaving his role with the Saudi Arabia national team. Mancini takes the reins at Al Sadd, who sit sixth in the Qatari top-flight with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of table-toppers Al-Gharafa. **media[381176]** His most successful spell as a manager came during his time with Inter. He led Inter to three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs during his first spell at the club between 2004-2008. He also guided Italy to the 2020 European Championship title and led Manchester City to their first Premier League crown in the 2011-12 campaign. Mancini was linked with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October.

Robert Firmino registered a hat-trick as Al Sadd humbled Umm Salal 8-3 in the Qatar Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium. The defending champions led 3-2 at half time.Firmino scored in the 24th, 65th and 70th minutes of the match while Akram Afif (28th minute), Rafa Mujica (43rd minute), Giovani Henrique (48th minute), Claudinho (73rd minute), and Agustin Silvera (80th minute) contributed a goal each.For Umm Salal, Edidiong Essien (31st minute), Jean Evrard Kouassi (45+5 minute), and Sayed Hassan Issa (90+3 minute) were on target. The mercurial Afif besides scoring one goal was also instrumental in initiating two other strikes, and provided assists in two more.Veteran Hassan al-Haydos made an assist for Firmino to complete his hat-trick. The big margin win was Al Sadd’s fourth of the league and took their tally to 14 points to prop them two places up into 5th while Umm Salal remain 11th with six points after a seventh loss.Al Sailiya rally to hold Duhail 2-2Al Duhail threw away a two-goal lead and were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Sailiya at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. The Red Knights were in cruise control in the first half with two superb goals, a stunning opener from Krzysztof Piątek in the 38th minute and another great goal by Edmilson Junior in the 43rd minute, before Al Sailiya turned the situation around in the second half through Khaled Ali who secured the equalizer within three minutes (58th minute) and (61st minute).Al Duhail, who advanced to 12 points to be 7th in standings, were guilty of several missed opportunities, while Al Sailiya, who have been suffering from inconsistent performances, count themselves lucky to have escaped with a point that moved them to 7 points and 10th place in the standings.

Saudi's Al Ahli staved off a second half fightback to defeat Qatar's Al Sadd 2-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Tuesday.Riyad Mahrez’s first half strike was cancelled out by Claudinho in the 63rd minute, only for Matheus Goncalves to respond with the winner five minutes later to seal a third victory for the defending champions. Al Sadd, who suffered a 3-1 defeat against Al Hilal SFC in their previous, dominated the opening exchanges with Rafa Mujica seeing his close range effort blocked in the seventh minute with Roger Ibanez and Matteo Dams marshalling Al Ahli’s backline.Al Ahli stayed calm under pressure and were bailed out of trouble in the 25th minute when Edouard Mendy produced a stunning sequence of saves, first denying Akram Afif from distance, then Roberto Firmino on the rebound before Mujica’s close range finish was ruled out for offside.Al Ahli began to find their rhythm with Enzo Millot and Franck Kessie pulling the strings in midfield, while Al Sadd’s early momentum was beginning to fade with Paulo Otavio seeing his shot go wide just after the half-hour mark. Al Ahli made their next attack count in the 34th minute with Millot setting up Mahrez after a clever buildup, with the Algerian finishing brilliantly with a low shot past Al Sadd keeper Meshaal Barsham.The Qatari side came close to finding the equaliser in first half stoppage time with Mujica rattling the woodwork from inside the box before Mohamed Camara’s long-range drive was comfortably collected by Mendy. Al Sadd started the second half with renewed confidence with Tarek Salman shooting high from distance, while Mujica missed the target by a whisker when he angled his headed attempt just wide of the left post.Their patience was rewarded in the 63rd minute after Afif pushed through the centre to set up Claudinho, who struck a powerful drive from just inside the box into the top right corner. The Saudi Pro League side regained the lead five minutes later when Galeno played the ball wide to Goncalves, who scored from the tightest of angles past the flailing hands of Barsham.Kessie thought he had furthered Al Ahli’s advantage in the 77th minute after a well-worked buildup involving Galeno and Feras Al Brikan supplying the nodded assist was ruled out for offside. A deflated Al Sadd were left frustrated in the closing stages with Al Ahli keeping the door shut to secure the victory.

Al Sadd and Al Rayyan will renew their storied rivalry in the Qatar Clasico Thursday at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, headlining the ninth round of the Qatar Stars League.The two giants of Qatari football meet under contrasting circumstances — Al Sadd are desperate to end a worrying winless run, while Al Rayyan arrive brimming with confidence after climbing into the top four.The reigning champions Al Sadd have struggled to find their rhythm this season, going four games without victory, including a 3-1 defeat to Al Arabi in the previous round that left them languishing in seventh place with eight points. For Sergio Allegri’s men, a turnaround is imperative if they are to keep their title hopes alive.“It is clear that the match against Al Rayyan will be very evenly matched,” said Al Sadd coach Allegri Wednesday. “They are coming off a good win and will have high morale, but we are working hard to get the three points and move up the standings. The players are motivated — they know how important this match is for everyone at the club, especially the fans.”Al Rayyan, meanwhile, are enjoying a strong campaign under Portuguese coach Artur Jorge. A 2-0 victory over Al Wakrah in the last round lifted them to fourth place on 13 points, with Brazilian striker Roger Guedes leading the league scoring charts with seven goals.“The Al Sadd match will be a big one because it’s against the league champions and the best team in the league,” said Jorge. “We’ll play with the same approach — to win — and we’re confident of achieving victory. The management did a great job in the transfer window, and now we need to build a winning mentality. I promise the fans we’ll fight for every title.”Rayyan forward Rodrigo Moreno is also relishing the challenge. “It will be a big match against the league champions, and we must prepare in the best possible way,” he said. “We’re focused, and the coach is always pushing us to perform at our best to get the three points.”In another high-stakes showdown Thursday, Al Gharafa will take on Al Duhail at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in a clash that could reshape the top of the standings. Al Gharafa sit second with 16 points after defeating Al Ahli 3-1 in the previous round, while Al Duhail are fifth with 11 points following a 2-0 victory over Al Shamal.Friday’s fixtures will feature league leaders Qatar SC, who face Al Wakrah at the Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium. Qatar SC, under Spanish coach Marquez Lopez, lead the table with 17 points after edging Umm Salal 2-1 last week. Al Wakrah, who slipped to sixth with 11 points after losing to Al Rayyan, will be determined to bounce back and stay within reach of the leading pack.Also Friday, Al Arabi will look to build on their morale-boosting 3-1 win over Al Sadd when they meet Al Shahaniya at Al Thumama Stadium. The victory lifted Al Arabi to eighth place, while Al Shahaniya, rooted to the bottom with four points, are under pressure to respond following a narrow 1-0 loss to Al Sailiya.Saturday’s action sees Al Sailiya take on Al Ahli at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium. Al Sailiya have surged off the bottom with back-to-back wins and now sit ninth with six points, while Al Ahli are second from bottom on goal difference after their defeat to Al Gharafa. At Al Khor Stadium, Umm Salal will meet Al Shamal in a crucial tie for both teams. Al Shamal dropped from first to third following their first loss of the campaign to Al Duhail, while Umm Salal, with just six points, are desperate to stop a run of two straight defeats.

Al Gharafa went top of the table after defeating Al Ahli 3-1, while Al Arabi stunned defending champions Al Sadd 3-1 in the Qatar Stars League Saturday. Al Duhail, meanwhile, earned a crucial 2-0 win over Al Shamal, who slumped from top spot to third.At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Sadd suffered a surprise defeat to Al Arabi, who came from behind to seal an impressive win. Akram Afif had given Al Sadd the lead in the 39th minute with a right-footed finish from the centre of the box after a clever through ball from Guilherme. However, Al Arabi responded swiftly through Michael Olunga, who headed home a fine cross from Rodri Sanchez just four minutes later.Misfortune struck Al Sadd moments before half-time when defender Ahmed Suhail inadvertently turned a Mohammed Khaled cross into his own net to hand Al Arabi the advantage. Matters worsened for the hosts when Paulo Otavio was sent off for violent conduct, leaving them a man short before the break.Al Arabi sealed the result late in the second half when Sanchez capitalised on a rebound after substitute Salem Reda’s shot struck the upright, firing home to make it 3-1. The win lifted Al Arabi to ninth place with seven points, while Al Sadd remained on eight points in seventh.Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham said that the match against Al Arabi was difficult and that the team is going through its toughest period. “The match was difficult, and the expulsion of Otavio affected us, especially since the players were feeling exhausted. We are going through a difficult period and it has been a while since we achieved any victory. We do not know exactly what the problem is. The fans support the team and we must return in better shape,” he said.Meanwhile, at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Al Duhail recorded a vital win over Al Shamal. Krzysztof Piatek opened the scoring in the 25th minute before Tahsin Jamshid doubled the lead in the 41st. Despite Benjamin Bourigeaud missing a penalty late on, the Red Knights held firm for their third win of the campaign, taking their tally to 11 points as they stayed fourth. Al Shamal, suffering their first defeat of the season, remained on 14 points and dropped to third.Al Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi praised his side’s display, saying: “We achieved an important victory against Al Shamal. This result reflects our teamwork and determination. The players gave a great effort tonight, and I thank them for their performance and commitment.”In the day’s other fixture, Al Gharafa climbed to the summit with a convincing win over Al Ahli at Al Thumama Stadium. Goals from Ferjani Sassi (47th minute), Seydou Sano (62nd minute) and an own goal by Amin Tihi (90th minute) helped Al Gharafa to victory, while Al Ahli’s lone goal was scored from the penalty spot by Julian Draxler in the 59th minute.The result took Al Gharafa to 16 points at the top of the standings. Qatar SC, who are in action Sunday against Umm Salal, can leapfrog Gharafa with a win.After an exciting but goalless first half, Sassi opened the scoring for Al Gharafa two minutes into the second half with a beautiful header from the centre of the box following a corner. The goal seemed to spur the hosts into action, and they responded 12 minutes later from the spot through Draxler following a foul on Michel Vlap by Sassi in the penalty area.The Cheetahs restored their lead through Sano three minutes later, who nodded home from an unmarked position following a corner kick by Yacine Brahimi. Al Ahli’s woes were further compounded at the stroke of regulation time when Tihi unwittingly turned the ball into his own net from a blocked shot to ensure a convincing win for Al Gharafa.

The Qatar Stars returns to action Saturday after a brief international break, with the eighth-round fixtures headlined by a traditional and fiercely contested clash between Al Sadd and Al Arabi at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.The competition had been on hold during the group stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which took place in Doha earlier this month. With Qatar securing direct qualification to the World Cup, attention now shifts back to domestic football as clubs seek to rediscover rhythm and momentum.At the heart of this round is the much-anticipated Al Sadd vs Al Arabi derby — a fixture steeped in history and passion, one that rarely disappoints.Defending champions Al Sadd, who have dominated the league over the past two seasons, find themselves in unfamiliar territory after a shaky start to the new campaign. The Wolves have collected just eight points from six games, winning twice, drawing twice, and losing twice — results that have left them in seventh place.Their recent performances have been inconsistent both locally and continentally. Back-to-back league draws against Al Wakrah and Al Duhail were followed by a 1-3 defeat to Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League, extending the team’s winless run to three games. The poor form prompted the club’s management to part ways with Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, appointing his compatriot and assistant Sergio Allegri as interim head coach.For Allegri, Saturday’s match marks his first domestic outing at the helm — and there could hardly be a sterner test. “The upcoming match against Al Arabi will be very difficult,” Allegri said Friday. “They have a new coaching staff, and although their start to the season hasn't been very good, they have distinguished players, both foreign and local professionals. It’s a tough match, and we must be fully prepared to win. Our goal is to be as close as possible to the top of the table, and that is our main objective this season.”Spanish striker Rafa Mujica, one of Al Sadd’s key attacking threats, echoed his coach’s sentiment. “The match against Al Arabi is strong and difficult — mainly because it’s always complicated and also special because it’s a derby,” Mujica said. “We know how difficult it will be, but we’ll give 100 percent and do everything to win.”On the opposite bench, Al Arabi are eager to turn a new page under Romanian coach Cosmin Contra, who takes charge following a turbulent spell that saw the Dream Team suffer heavy back-to-back defeats — 1-8 against Al Duhail and 0-4 against Al Sailiya. Those losses left them with just four points, sitting in the penultimate position on the table.The club reacted swiftly, dismissing Spanish coach Pablo Amo and temporarily handing duties to U-23 coach Yari Rodriguez before finalising Contra’s appointment during the international break. The former Al Ittihad coach is well aware of the challenge ahead but remains confident in his new side’s potential.“I am very happy to be joining the Al Arabi coaching team,” Contra said. “Yes, the team is going through a difficult period, but I believe we are capable of overcoming it and moving forward to achieve the best results. We have good players in the team; we just need to regain confidence. The Al Sadd match will be a strong incentive for the players to give their best and achieve a result that will put the team back in the competitive frame of mind.”Al Arabi defender Alexis Perez added: “We are well prepared for the match despite the strength of the opponents. We need to win to regain confidence, and our goal is to come away with the three points. Al Sadd are a strong team, and the match will not be easy, but we must fully adhere to the coach’s instructions in order to achieve the desired result.”Beyond the derby, Round 8 offers several compelling matchups. At Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, high-flying Al Shamal, who top the standings with 14 points from six matches, will test their unbeaten record against last season’s runners-up Al Duhail. Coach Djamel Belmadi’s side, currently sixth with eight points, are still smarting from a 3-1 AFC Champions League defeat to Al Wahda of the UAE.“We’re fully aware of the importance of facing Al Shamal, the league leaders,” Belmadi said. “We must cope with the pressure of matches and rely on our prepared players.”Saturday’s fixtures also see Al Ahli host Al Gharafa at Al Thumama Stadium, while tomorrow’s games feature Qatar SC versus Umm Salal at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan taking on Al Wakrah at Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, and Al Shahaniya meeting Al Sailiya at Al Khor Stadium.

Al Hilal continued the perfect start to their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Al Sadd in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 tie Tuesday.Strikes from Yusuf Akcicek, Kalidou Koulibaly and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic steered Simone Inzaghi’s side to a third victory while Al Sadd’s wait for a triumph continued as they suffered defeat after having started with two draws.Al Hilal, who were missing Joao Cancelo and Salem al-Dawsari, made five changes to the starting line-up that defeated Al Ettifaq 5-0 in a Saudi Pro League tie on Friday while Al Sadd introduced four changes from their last continental stage outing against United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah.Following a cagey start, the home side had the first look at goal in the 10th minute after Ruben Neves helped set up Kaio Cesar from a corner, only for the Brazilian midfielder to fire wide off the right post.Al Sadd were almost punished in the 18th minute when Milinkovic-Savic and Abdullah Al Hamddan combined to split open their defence, only for Savic’s effort to be parried away by keeper Meshaal Barsham.Another lapse followed in the 23rd minute as Mohamed Kanno’s cross found Milinkovic-Savic, who had the time and space to pick his spot but missed his target from the top of the box but Al Hilal made no mistake two minutes later.The pressure finally got to the Qatari side after they failed to deal with a Santos Almeida free-kick, allowing Koulibaly to nudge the ball into the path of Akcicek, who slotted home from close range. The Qatari side were caught out again in the 40th minute after Ruben Neves whipped in a cross for Koulibaly to power home with a header.The four-time Asian champions threatened to extend their advantage in the second half with Ahmed Suhail and Milinkovic-Savic coming close two minutes after the restart, while Marcos Leonardo saw his soft close range attempt parried away by Barsham.Against the run of play, Al Sadd pulled one back in the 63rd minute when a clever Pedro Miguel pass found Roberto Firmino - who tasted continental glory with Al Ahli Saudi FC last season - to slot home.Sergio Alegre’s side came knocking again 10 minutes later when Pedro Miguel released Paulo Otavio inside the box, only for Koulibaly to intervene with a clearance. Al Hilal, however, put the game to bed in the 82nd minute with Milinkovic-Savic curling a stunning free-kick over the Al Sadd wall past a sprawling Barsham.Al Hilal had a chance to extend their lead in stoppage time after Abdullah Al Yazidi conceded a penalty but Barsham kept out Cesar’s spot-kick but it did not dampen the gloss on their victory. Al Hilal will seek a fourth win against Al Gharafa SC on November 3 while Al Sadd will play Al Ahli Saudi FC a day later.

Qatar football giants Al Sadd will be eyeing a win against Saudi side Al Hilal on Tuesday when the two powerful sides meet in an AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 clash.Al Hilal will expect to stay on the winning ways when they face the Qatari side on Tuesday.Al Hilal, the four-time Asian champions, are the only side in the West Zone with a perfect record while Al Sadd opened their campaign with two draws.Al Hilal will take to the pitch with confidence as they are unbeaten in each of their last 13 home games in the AFC Champions League Elite - with the last 11 being wins.Victory Tuesday will mean the outright longest winning streak by any side at home in the competition, a record currently shared with Japan’s Yokohama F Marinos.Al Hilal, however, are winless in their last two meetings with Al Sadd but did beat the Qatari champions in the two matches prior to that.Al Sadd’s slow start to the season led to the departure of head coach Felix Sanchez, with the Spaniard’s compatriot Sergio Alegre taking charge on an interim basis. Alegre couldn’t have picked a tougher match to start his tenure but if Al Sadd do register a win, it could well spark a turnaround in their fortunes.Alegre, however, said during a press conference on Monday: “A tough and strong match awaits us against Al Hilal. We have prepared well for this match and I hope we will perform at our best. We fear nothing. We have a distinguished group of players, and our goal is to play a strong match and achieve a positive result.”Two-time AFC Asian Cup winning captain and an Al Sadd stalwart Hassan al-Haydos said on Monday: “We know Al Hilal’s strengths and weaknesses. We must give it our best. We must also give our complete focus during the match. After Qatar qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (last week), our morale has improved, and I hope it will be reflected in the match against Al Hilal.”Al Hilal’s Italian coach, Simone Inzaghi, Monday emphasised the importance of winning Tuesday’s AFC Champions League match, adding that his team is at the top of their group and the goal is to ‘maintain that position’. Inzaghi on Monday admired the strength of the opposing team, saying: “We followed Al Sadd closely, as they performed admirably in two matches. We must prepare well for the match in order to maintain our top position.”Regarding the pressure of ACL matches, Inzaghi said that their focus is solely on Tuesday’s match, stressing that the team will face numerous matches in the coming period, and that all members of the squad are ‘ready for those matches’.Regarding Salem al-Dawsari’s injury, Inzaghi said al-Dawsari will not participate in the match due to the injury he sustained while playing for the national team.“He is an important player and we hope he returns to action as soon as possible. Everyone is monitoring the progress of his condition,” he said.

Al Arabi handed Al Duhail a crushing 4-0 defeat in the fifth round match of the QSL Cup 2025-26 season at the Grand Hamad Stadium Sunday.The victory, Al Arabi’s third of the tournament, Sunday kept them in third place in the standings with 10 points – behind on goal difference with leaders Al Kharaitiyat and second-placed Umm Salal.Al Rayyan, also with 10 points, are in fourth spot.Al Duhail with a second loss and 4 points have slipped to 15th place.Al Arabi were on the attack against Al Duhail from the word go with Isaac Lihadji scoring in the 2nd minute of the match. Jordan Veretout scored the team’s second goal in the 40th minute.In the second half Aladin Hasan (67th minute) and Pablo Sarabia (72nd minute) added more to the tally.Umm Salal thrash Al Sadd 5-0 Earlier, Umm Salal blanked Al Sadd 5-0 at the Al Shamal Stadium.It was Umm Salal’s third win of the tournament while Al Sadd, who suffered their third defeat, remain on 1 point and in 19th place in the 20-team tournament.Umm Salal led 1-0 at half time only to come back steamrolling in the second session to score four more goals.Antonio Mance (38th minute), Cristo Gonzalez (48th minute), Jean Quaisi (70 & 82 minutes) and Ahmed Sayed (90+1 minute) got the goals for Umm Salal.Qatar SC beat Al Ahli 6-1Qatar SC yesterday beat Al Ahli 6-1 at Al Khor Stadium.The game was clearly beyond Al Ahli’s reach by the blast of the whistle for the closing of the first half, with Qatar SC leading 4-0, benefiting from two own goals from Al Ahli’s Khaled Hassan (second and 39th minutes), while Raoul Sanda (14th minute) and Saeed Brahmi (44th minute) added one each.The Brigadiers got their consolation goal in the 49th minute via a penalty kick through Talal Ali, but Joao Pedro (75th minute) and Yan Matheus (88th minute) added two more for Qatar SC to ensure the emphatic victory, which secured them their first 3 points (their only points so far) of the competition, while Al Ahli remained on 1 point.

Al Rayyan emerged as champions of the inaugural basketball Qatar Super Cup as they beat Al Sadd 97-72 in the final held at the Lusail Multi-Purpose Sports Arena Wednesday. Mohammed bin Saad al-Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, crowned the champions. Al Rayyan dominated from the tip-off, imposing their style with organised offence built on quick transitions and stout defence to claim the first quarter 36-23. Al Rayyan extended their lead in the second quarter, outscoring Al Sadd 27-18 thanks to standout performances from their imports. They maintained control in the third, winning 20-12 with near-total command of the game. Al Sadd mounted a late rally in the fourth, taking it 19-14, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap, sealing Al Rayyan’s 97-72 win and inaugural Super Cup title. Rolands Freimanis shone for Al Rayyan with 27 points, while Ding Ding Adel led Al Sadd with 20 points. Al Rayyan advanced to the final with a commanding 101-74 semi-final win over Al Ahli, while Al Sadd progressed after edging Al Arabi 87-82.