Ahmed Al-Dhafiri trains for the upcoming game against Irbid

AMMAN, Oct 1: Kuwait Club faces Al-Hussein Irbid of Jordan tonight at 7:00 pm at Amman International Stadium in the second round of Group 4 of the AFC Champions League 2.

Both teams are looking to improve upon their first-round results. Kuwait Club drew 0-0 with Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi, while Al-Hussein Irbid suffered a 1-3 loss to Shabab Al-Ahli from the UAE. In another Group 4 clash, Shabab Al-Ahli will take on Nasaf Qarshi at the Central Stadium in Karshi, Uzbekistan, at 5:00 pm.

Kuwait Club, led by Montenegrin coach Nebojsa Jovovic, enters the match with high confidence after securing the top spot in the Zain Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Al-Arabi last Friday. It now sits three points ahead of its nearest rival. Jovovic and his squad know that a win today is crucial for their chances of advancing to the next round, but they face a determined Al-Hussein side, eager to secure its first victory, bolstered by home support.

The Kuwait Club squad boasts a mix of talented and experienced players across all positions. Key foreign players include Moroccans Yahya Jabrane and Ayman Abu Al-Fath, Tunisian Yassin Al-Khenisi, Bahraini Mohammed Marhoon, and Congolese Arsene "Malik" Zola. The team is also supported by standout local talents such as Mohammed Daham, Mishari Ghannam, Yousef Nasser, Sami Al-Sanea, Fahad Hamoud, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, and others.

Al-Hussein Irbid currently holds second place in the Jordanian Professional League, with 13 points, just behind leaders Al-Ramtha, who have played one more match.

This match marks the debut of Al-Hussein Irbid’s new coach, Portuguese Joao Motta, who replaced his compatriot Thiago Moutinho. Moutinho departed the club due to inconsistent performances both domestically and in Asia. Motta, who had been coaching Al-Tadamon this season and led the team to a strong start, stepped down after receiving the offer from Al-Hussein Irbid and resigned after the fourth round of his previous assignment.

By Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff