Sharjah to face Shabab Al Ahli in ADIB Cup semi-final

Sharjah 24: Sharjah will meet Shabab Al Ahli tomorrow in the first leg of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Football Cup semi-finals at Sharjah Stadium at 10:00 PM. This will be Sharjah's 100th match in the competition.

A month of high-stakes matches

This is the third of five scheduled matches between Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli this month, spanning various local and continental tournaments. The teams previously faced off in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, with Sharjah advancing. They will also meet again in the ADNOC Professional League.

Sharjah’s history in the competition

In the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup, Sharjah has played nine matches against Shabab Al Ahli. Sharjah has one win, three losses, and five draws in these encounters. Sharjah has played 99 total matches in the competition, winning 32, drawing 30, and losing 37, with 146 goals scored and 151 conceded. The team won the title once, during the 2022-2023 season.

Challenges ahead for Sharjah

Sharjah’s coach, Cosmin Olariu, acknowledged significant challenges due to the absence of several international players but remains confident in his team’s ability to perform at its best.

Shabab Al Ahli’s record and ambitions

Shabab Al Ahli has played 118 matches in the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup, winning 53, drawing 39, and losing 26, with 205 goals scored and 144 conceded. As the most successful team in the competition with five titles, Shabab Al Ahli coach Paulo Sousa stressed the importance of presenting their best performance and being more effective against Sharjah’s mature and skilled team.