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Amir Cup 2026: Al Wakrah beat Al Rayyan 3-0, advance to semi-finals
Doha: Al Wakrah SC booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Amir Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over Al Rayyan SC in their quarter-final clash on Friday at Al Thumama Stadium. umafrika.club
Goals from Lucas Mendes, Amine Zouhzouh, and Gelson Dala in the 19th, 76th, and 81st minutes respectively secured a comfortable win for Al Wakrah, who now await the winner of the later quarter-final between Al Gharafa SC and Umm Salal SC at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Al Rayyan started brightly and nearly took an early lead when Brazilian midfielder Gregore delivered a cross to Rodrigo Moreno, whose low strike was well saved by goalkeeper Mohammed Al Bakri in the 5th minute.
Al Wakrah responded with a disciplined approach, absorbing pressure and relying on quick transitions. Their strategy paid off when they earned a free-kick on the edge of the box, which Lucas Mendes brilliantly curled into the top-left corner beyond goalkeeper Mahmoud Abou Nada to open the scoring in the 19th minute.
Al Rayyan pushed forward in search of an equalizer, creating several chances. The closest came in the 28th minute when Brazilian forward Róger Guedes struck a direct free-kick that rebounded off the post. Just before halftime, Al Wakrah's goalkeeper denied Khalid Ali in a one-on-one situation, preserving his side's lead heading into the break.
Despite continued attacking pressure from Al Rayyan early in the second half, Al Wakrah remained the more clinical side. A second goal by Yousef Abderrazak was ruled out following a VAR review for a handball by Aissa Laidouni in the buildup in the 54th minute.
Al Wakrah eventually doubled their lead in the 76th minute when Luis Alberto set up Amine Zouhzouh, who finished calmly. The result was put beyond doubt five minutes later, as Laidouni delivered a precise pass behind the defense for substitute Gelson Dala, who slotted home the third goal.
Coached by Jose Luis Sierra, Al Wakrah saw out the remaining minutes with ease to seal a comprehensive victory and advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of Al Gharafa versus Umm Salal.
الأهلي يحسمها بثلاثية ويؤكد بقاءه مع الكبار.. هبوط «حزين» لأم صلال للدرجة الثانية
حقق الأهلي فوزًا ثمينًا على حساب أم صلال بنتيجة 3- 1، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن ختام منافسات دوري نجوم بنك الدوحة، ليختتم الفريق مشواره بانتصار مهم رفع به رصيده إلى 26 نقطة، بينما تجمد رصيد أم صلال عند 29 نقطة ليهبط رسميًا إلى دوري الدرجة الثانية. لأول مرة منذ صعودة إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى في موسم 2006 / 2007.
دخل الأهلي اللقاء بعزيمة واضحة لحصد النقاط الثلاث، فما لم يظهر أم صلال بالصورة المطلوبة والتي تمنحه الأفضلية حيث تراجع بشدة بعدما تقدم الأهلي بالهدف المبكر عن طريق إسلام الشرف في بداية اللقاء وكان لهذا الهدف أكبر الأثر في هبوط معنويات لاعبي أم صلال حيث منح الهدف أفضلية مبكرة للعميد أربكت حسابات الصقور.
وفي الشوط الثاني، واصل الأهلي تفوقه وأضاف الهدف الثاني عبر ميشيل فلاب في الدقيقة 48، قبل أن يعزز دراكسلر النتيجة بالهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 67، مؤكدًا سيطرة فريقه على مجريات اللقاء.
ورغم محاولات أم صلال للعودة، تمكن أسامة طنان من تسجيل هدف تقليص الفارق في الدقيقة 70، إلا أن ذلك لم يكن كافيًا لتغيير النتيجة أو إنقاذ فريقه من الهبوط.
وبهذه النتيجة، أنهى الأهلي موسمه بانتصار معنوي، في حين ودّع أم صلال دوري الأضواء بعد موسم صعب لم يتمكن خلاله من تحقيق النتائج التي تضمن له البقاء خاصة وأن أم صلال عانى كثيرا طوال المواسم الأخيرة ولعب الفاصلة الموسم الماضي وعبرها عن طريق المرخية من قبل عانى أيضا وتواجد في الدوري بصعوبة ليأتي موسم 2025 /2026 ليكون موسما مؤلما لأم صلال والذي يكتب فيه فصل الهبوط لأول مرة منذ صعوده للدوري.
Qatar win two gold medals and a silver to end Asian Beach Games on high note
Doha: Qatari teams ended their Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 campaign yesterday with two gold medals (3x3 basketball and beach volleyball) and one silver (beach handball), reinforcing their continental strength.
Beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan won gold after a commanding 2–0 (21–15, 21–12) victory over Iran in the final. They dominated throughout the tournament, topping Group B unbeaten before beating the Maldives, Uzbekistan, China in the quarter-finals, and Thailand in the semi-finals en route to the title. Thailand claimed bronze after defeating Oman 2–0.
Their win adds to Qatar’s strong record in the sport, following success at the Asian Beach Games in 2014 (Phuket) and 2016 (Da Nang), where they secured gold and silver medals.
Qatar Volleyball Federation President Ali Ghanem Al-Kuwari dedicated the victory, saying: “We dedicate this gold to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani (OCA and QOC President), in appreciation of their continuous support and patronage of sport, as well as to the Qatari people who always stand behind their national teams. This achievement reflects a sustained journey of work and planning.”
He added: “Sheikh Joaan’s leadership role has significantly enhanced Qatar’s sporting presence in Asia, positively impacting volleyball and other sports, and strengthening Qatar’s reputation as a key contributor to Asian sport development. This gives our national teams greater confidence in international competitions.”
Qatar 3x3 basketball team strikes gold
Qatar’s men’s 3x3 basketball team were crowned champions after defeating Thailand 21–10 in the final yesterday.
The victory came after a demanding day in which the team played two crucial matches. They began their campaign in the finals with an 18–16 win over China in the semi-finals in a fast-paced, high-intensity contest before carrying their momentum into the final against Thailand.
Thailand reached the final after edging the Philippines 20–18 in the semi-finals, setting up a decisive clash with Qatar for the gold medal. China secured bronze after beating the Philippines 21–13 in the third-place match.
Throughout the semi-finals and final, the Qatari side showed remarkable composure despite playing multiple matches in a single day. They maintained their fast-paced style and capitalised on attacking opportunities effectively to claim a deserved gold medal.
Qatar reached this stage after a strong group-stage run, topping Group C with a perfect record following victories over Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and India. They then continued their impressive form by defeating Iran in the quarter-finals.
In the women’s competition, Qatar were eliminated in the second round after losing to Singapore, having qualified for that stage by finishing third in their group.
Following the match, Mohammed Saad Al Meghaiseeb as President of the Federation, dedicated the achievement to the Qatari leadership. He said the national team deserved the title based on their overall performance throughout the tournament. He also highlighted that this was Qatar’s third consecutive gold medal in 3x3 basketball at the Asian Beach Games, following triumphs in 2014 and 2016, underlining their dominance at Asian level.
He added that the victory reflected the players’ high level of preparation, particularly given the demanding format of playing multiple key matches in a single day. He said the team handled the challenge with discipline and focus while maintaining their performance throughout the competition.
Beach handball team wins silver
Qatar’s national beach handball team won the silver medal at the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 after losing 2–1 to Iran in the final yesterday.
The achievement capped a strong tournament campaign. Qatar opened their run with victories over Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Jordan, before topping their group with a win over Thailand. They then defeated Bahrain in the semi-finals to reach the final.
Thailand secured bronze after defeating Bahrain 2–0 in the third-place match.
The Qatari beach handball team remains one of the strongest sides on the continental and international stage, with a decorated record that includes Asian Beach Games titles in 2012 (China), 2014 (Thailand), and 2016 (Vietnam). They also won silver at the 2022 World Games and bronze medals at the World Championship in 2014 and 2016, underlining their sustained competitiveness across major tournaments.
Atletico's Barrios to miss Arsenal tie with thigh injury
Madrid: Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios is set to miss the Champions League semi-final tie against Arsenal after his club said Sunday he sustained a thigh injury.
"Barrios has suffered a muscular injury in his left thigh, which occurred during the match against Athletic Bilbao this Saturday," said Atletico in a statement, without specifying how long he is expected to miss.
Spanish media reported the injury will keep the 22-year-old out for a month, a blow for Diego Simeone's side ahead of Wednesday's first leg clash against Arsenal at the Metropolitano stadium.
After defeat in last weekend's Copa del Rey final the Champions League represents Atletico's last hope of silverware this season.