Al-Shatti directs the players in the last training sessions.

KUWAIT CITY, March 4: Al-Arabi continues its campaign in the Asian Challenge League Championship, facing Oman's Al-Seeb at 9:30 pm today at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in the first leg of the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, in another quarter-final clash, India's East Bengal will take on Turkmenistan's Arkadag at 7:00 pm at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.

Al-Arabi advanced to this stage as the best runner-up among the three groups in the West Asia region. Hosting Group B matches last October, the team finished second after a 0-1 loss to Kyrgyzstan's Abdish Ata, followed by a 2-0 victory over Maldives' Mazia and a thrilling 3-2 win against Arkadag in the third round. The "Green" secured qualification based on goal superiority over Abdish Ata and Lebanon's Al-Najma from Group A.

On the domestic front, Al-Arabi enjoys technical stability and currently shares the lead in the Zain Premier League with Kuwait Club, both sitting at 44 points, with six rounds remaining.

Head coach Nasser Al-Shatti aims to make an impact at the continental level by securing a strong result that boosts the team’s chances of reaching the semi-finals. He will rely on a mix of local talents and professional players capable of achieving this goal.

However, Al-Seeb holds a psychological edge, having eliminated Al-Arabi from the AFC Cup in September 2022 with a 2-1 victory in the West Asia semi-finals. The Omani club, which topped Group C with a perfect record, is currently in excellent form. A former AFC Cup champion (2022), Al-Seeb leads the 2024-2025 Omani Professional League after 15 rounds and is on course to claim its fourth league title.

The second leg of the quarter-finals will take place on March 12, followed by the semi-finals on April 9 and 17. The tournament's final, a single-match showdown, is set for May 10, 2025.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff