AFC Champions League Elite - Homework pays off for Sharjah

Jeddah: Sharjah FC head coach Abdulmajid Al Nimr credited his team’s thorough preparation for their 1-0 victory over defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 on Monday.

After a listless first half, Ousmane Camara’s 81st-minute strike earned Sharjah the win, ending Al Ahli’s 22-match unbeaten run on the continental stage.

#ACLElite | Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 0-1 Sharjah FC (UAE)

“I would like to congratulate the whole team on the victory. It was a hard-fought win against the defending champions, and the match was generally evenly contested,” said Al Nimr.

“We deserved to win because we studied Al Ahli Saudi well. They could have won even with their second-tier players, and we also didn't field eight key players in this match.”

The win halted a two-match losing streak for AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 winners Sharjah, who moved to seven points from five matches while Al Ahli remained rooted on 10.

Head coach Matthias Jaissle was left to reflect on the challenges of rotating his Al Ahli squad.

“The result was difficult. The aim of this match was to give some players a chance. We must look at the schedule from all angles and we have a tough (Saudi King’s Cup) match against Al Qadsia on Friday,” said Jaissle.

“The reason for the loss and our failure to score was the lack of harmony due to the rotation.”

Al Ahli Saudi will aim to bounce back against Iraq’s Al Shorta on December 22, while Sharjah will face Al Hilal SFC.

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