Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of Qatar Stars League, crowned Al Duhail as champions of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League.

Al Duhail won the league championship for the eighth time in their history following their 5-2 win over Al Shamal in their final Week 22 game played at the Al Duhail Stadium on Monday.

Al Duhail topped the points table with 51 points having recorded 16 wins, three draws and as many losses. Al Arabi with 49 points finished as the runners-up, while defending champions Al Sadd ended up third with a tally of 44 points.

Needing a win in their last league game to steer clear of the field, The Red Knights came out firing on all cylinders, with their star striker Michael Olunga pumping in four fantastic goals (21st minute, 32nd minute penalty, 35th minute and 52nd minute) after captain Almoez Ali (seventh minute) had opened the scoring.

Kenyan Olunga also claimed the Mansour Muftah Award for the Top Scorer finishing with a total of 22 goals to his name ahead of Al Arabi’s Omar Al Somah, who scored 20 goals.

For Al Shamal, Matias Nani 47th minute (penalty) and Moustafa Tarek Mashal (90+3 minute) scored the goals.

Al Duhail began their winning coolly as Almoez, perfectly stationed, received a fine pass from South Korean Nam Tae-Hee and he beat a charging goalkeeper with a left-footer to score the first goal.

Olunga then swung into the act, first making a perfect header off a Mohammed Musa cross after being left unmarked, and then scoring from the spot after Al Shamal were penalized with a penalty as Abdulaziz Mitwali brought down an advancing Almoez with a back tackle.

Olunga’s third and the team’s fourth goal was an act of smooth brilliance as the striker quickly turned about to slam the ball into the net after receiving the ball from Nam.

After half-time, Al Shamal threatened to attack and benefited as Al Duhail defender Bassam Al Rawi brought down a charging substitute Jassim Al Hashimi inside the box and the referee called for a penalty. Nani made no mistake from the spot as Al Shamal pulled one back.

Al Duhail, however, hit back immediately as Al Rawi and Olunga combined yet again to deliver another blow to the rivals to make it 5-1.

Al Shamal had the final kick in after Amjed Attwan’s penalty strike came back after hitting the crossbar and a lunging Moustafa Tarek struck successfully.

The loss meant that Al Shamal ended the league with 18 points, tied with Umm Salal but behind on goal difference, to be 11th in the standings and will now play the Play-Off against Second Division runners-up Al Khor.