Al-Ahli Crowned Champions of Asia for the First Time

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli wrote a golden chapter in its footballing journey on Saturday night, lifting the AFC Champions League Elite title for the very first time after a professional 2-0 win over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Backed by a sea of 60,000 fans in Jeddah, the star-studded squad made history on home soil, completing an unbeaten campaign and proving too strong for the five-time Japanese champions. Goals from Galeno and Franck Kessie in the first half sealed the win, capping off a dazzling tournament run.

Firmino leads the charge

The architect of Al-Ahli’s success was none other than Roberto Firmino, who not only assisted both goals but also earned the MVP award of the tournament. The Brazilian forward set up Galeno for the opener with a slick pass on 35 minutes, before delivering a pinpoint cross for Kessie’s header just before the break.

With Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy—both former UEFA Champions League winners—joining Firmino in the squad, Al-Ahli’s international pedigree was on full display. Mahrez nearly added a third goal late on, firing just wide to the frustration of an already jubilant crowd.

A city united in celebration

This win went beyond the pitch—it was a powerful source of pride for Jeddah and a unifying celebration for all of Saudi Arabia. The tournament’s final stages were hosted in the city, and Al-Ahli used the home advantage to perfection, riding waves of crowd support from the quarterfinals to the final.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, reflecting on the win, said: “Since I came here 18 months ago, they have supported us so much. As I said when I signed, it was to make history, to win trophies and to make this club as big as it was before.”

Al-Ahli now joins the elite ranks of Saudi clubs to conquer Asia, following in the footsteps of Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal. But for the green side of Jeddah, this night will forever be remembered as the moment their long wait turned into glory.