MUSCAT: Omani coach Rasheed Jaber added another major achievement to his coaching career after guiding Iraq’s Al Quwa Al Jawiya to the Iraq Stars League title, sealing the club’s eighth league crown with two rounds to spare.
The triumph carried a strong Omani mark as national team striker Issam al Subhi was also part of the Baghdad-based side’s successful campaign. Al Quwa Al Jawiya confirmed the title after a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over traditional rivals Al Zawraa in the round 36 clasico at Al Shaab International Stadium in Baghdad. The result, coupled with Al Shorta’s 2-0 defeat against Erbil, handed the Falcons an unassailable lead at the top of the table.
Al Zawraa, Iraq’s most decorated league club, started strongly and went ahead in the 13th minute through Hiran Ahmed. The first half ended with Al Zawraa in control, but Al Quwa Al Jawiya responded late in the match with the character of champions. Substitute Mohammed Jawad brought the Falcons level in the 85th minute before Waka Ramadan struck the winner deep into stoppage time to spark huge celebrations among the club’s supporters.
For Jaber, the title represented more than just a domestic success abroad. It underlined the growing presence of Omani coaches in regional football and their ability to compete in high-pressure environments. The Omani coach took charge with the mission of restoring Al Quwa Al Jawiya’s identity as a title-challenging club and the season ended with the Iraqi giants returning to the top after several campaigns away from the league crown.
JABER BRINGS GLORY
Speaking after the title-clinching win, Jaber said the achievement was the result of collective work from the opening stages of the season. “Praise be to God, we worked as one group from the beginning. Our objective was to bring Al Quwa Al Jawiya back to its natural position as a champion club, a competitive club and a team with a strong fan base and influence in Iraqi football,” he said.
Asked whether winning the league had been part of an agreement with the club’s management, Jaber clarified: “There was no specific agreement on winning the title. The aim was to return Al Quwa Al Jawiya to where it belongs. Today, thankfully, the team has been crowned champion with a seven-point lead and two matches still remaining.”
Al Quwa Al Jawiya’s latest success adds to their historic league victories in 1974-75, 1989-90, 1991-92, 1996-97, 2004-05, 2016-17 and 2020-21, moving the club to eight Iraqi league titles. Al Zawraa remain the record champions with 14 titles, while Al Shorta also stand among the country’s leading clubs.
With this achievement, Jaber and Al Subhi have written a memorable Omani chapter in Iraqi football, giving Al Quwa Al Jawiya a season to remember and Oman another proud moment on the regional football stage.
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