Monday, 6th September, 2021

20:20 kick-off at Al Wakrah Stadium

Al Ahli face Al Shamal in Round 1 (Group A) of the 2021-2022 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Wakrah Stadium on Monday.

Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah and Umm Salal are the other teams in Group A of the tournament, which features 10 teams this time, five in each group.

Al Ahli, who will continue to be coached by Nebojsa Jovovic, will be keen to make amends this season, having finished last in Group B of last season’s Ooredoo Cup.

The Brigadiers had narrowly missed out on earning a fourth-place finish in the 2020-2021 season QNB Stars League and thereby earning the right to play in the elite Qatar Cup.

Al Ahli and Al Gharafa both ended up with 33 points, but The Cheetahs were placed ahead on better goal difference (+7 as against Al Ahli’s -10).

Al Shamal are the newcomers in the First Division this season. They are back after a gap of more than six seasons. They won the Second Division League last season (2020-2021) to qualify for the top flight.

Al Shamal retained the services of Moroccan coach Hisham Jadrane and have geared up for the big occasion with a spate of new recruitments.