Al Shabab defeat Asyr to meet Kuwait SC in quarters

MUSCAT: Al Shabab topped group A as they defeated Altyn Asyr FC from Turkmenistan by 3-1 to seal the direct spot of the group to the quarterfinals of the 2025/2026 AFC Challenge League (ACGL). Altyn Asyr took the lead through Zafar Babajanow who managed to break the deadlock and netted the first-half goal at the Changlimithang Stadium. Then, Kenean Maleko equlaised before Hatim al Rushadi’s brace confirmed the victory for Batinah Southern team. Al Shabab will meet Group B winners Kuwait SC in the quarterfinals on March 4, 2026 in Muscat while the second leg match will be scheduled on March 11, 2026 in Kuwait.

Al Shabab and Altyn Asyr FC players in action.

Altyn Asyr took the early lead through Zafar Babajanow, who broke the deadlock in the first half. However, Al Shabab responded strongly, as Kenean Maleko equalised before Hatim al Rushadi’s second-half brace sealed a well-deserved win and maintained Al Shabab’s perfect record in the group. The victory capped off a brilliant group-stage campaign for Al Shabab, who began their continental journey with a 1-0 win over hosts Paro FC of Bhutan, followed by a 2-1 triumph against FC Abdysh-Ata of Kyrgyzstan, and finally the emphatic 3-1 win over Altyn Asyr FC.

Head coach Hassan Rustam praised his players for their determination and teamwork throughout the group stage. “This victory reflects the outstanding effort and spirit shown by our players in all three matches,” Rustam said. “We faced tough opponents but the team showed consistency, focus, and great fighting spirit to finish top of the group. Special thanks to our players and technical staff for their hard work and to the club’s management for their continuous support.”

“We will now start preparing for the next stage. I am confident the team can go even further in this Asian competition,” he added.

Al Shabab players celebrate after the match.

SEEB EXIST AFTER GROUP STAGE

Meanwhile, Oman’s Seeb Club concluded their ACGL campaign at the group stage following a 2-1 defeat to Lebanon’s Al Ansar FC in Group B. The result lifted Al Ansar to six points, finishing second behind Kuwait SC, who defeated Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh 2-0 in the group’s other fixture. Al Ansar advanced as the best second-placed team across the three West Zone groups and will face FC Muras United of Kyrgyzstan (Group C winners) in the quarterfinals.

Seeb’s campaign began on a positive note with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bashundhara Kings, followed by a 1-1 draw with hosts Kuwait SC. However, their narrow defeat to Al Ansar ended their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.