KUWAIT CITY, Nov 6: Kuwait are determined to rekindle their momentum in the AFC Cup as they face off against Syrian side Al-Ahly Aleppo Union 8:00 pm at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in the fourth round of the second group stage. Simultaneously, the Iraqi Al-Kahraba Club will host their Jordanian counterpart, Al-Wahdat.

Al-Wahdat lead the group with 6 points, while Kuwait follow closely with 5 points. Al-Kahraba stand at third place with 4 points, and Al-Ahly Aleppo are at the bottom of the group with just one point.

"Al-Abyad" initiated their campaign in the group matches with a goalless draw against Al-Kahraba. They secured a 2-1 victory over Al-Wahdat in the second round but ended up with a 1-1 draw against Al-Ahly Aleppo in the third round.

Kuwait's Serbian coach, Boris Bonjak, is optimistic about harnessing the high spirits of his players, following their impressive 4-1 triumph over Al-Fahaheel in the seventh round of the Zain Premier League. This victory catapulted them to the top of the league standings with 17 points, a two-point lead over their closest rivals, Al-Qadsia.

The coaching staff is eager to achieve multiple objectives in today's match. They aim to compensate for the two points lost in the previous round against the Syrian team at the bottom of the group standings due to the draw. Additionally, they plan to capitalize on home advantage and the support of the crowd to secure a victory that would enhance their chances of topping the group if the results of the Al-Kahraba and Al-Wahdat match work in their favor.

Despite some key players being absent in recent clashes, Bonjak has a squad with standout performers in various positions. Notable players include Moroccan Mahdi Barahma, Tunisians Yassin Al-Khanisi and Yassin Ameri, Bahraini Mohammed Al-Marhoon, as well as Mohammed Daham, Faisal Zayed, Fahd Al-Hajri, Sami Al-Sanea, Talal Al-Fadil, Ahmed Al-Zanki, Mishari Ghannam, and Ali Hussein.

On the other side, the Syrian Al-Ahly Aleppo Union arrived two days ago and trained at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. Al-Ahly Aleppo currently sit in the sixth position in the Syrian League with 5 points, trailing 5 points behind the league leaders, Al-Fatwa. In their last match, Al-Fatwa secured a 1-0 victory over Al-Ahly Aleppo in a game that was postponed to the fourth round of the Syrian League.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff