Naafo Stunner Ends Sitra’s Campaign

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Sitra’s AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League campaign came to a heartbreaking end last night after a 1–0 defeat to UAE’s Al Ain at Khalifa Sports City, with a spectacular late strike condemning Bahrain’s sole representatives to elimination.

The result was always an uphill task for the side sitting eighth in the Nasser Bin Hamad Premier League. Al Ain entered the match as runners-up in the UAE Pro League and had already beaten Sitra 4–1 in the opening group fixture.

Al Ain had the better of the first half and created the clearest chance before the break. In the 39th minute, Jonas Naafo found space inside the box but failed to connect cleanly with a free header, sending a volley wide as the Emirati side pressed for the opener.

Ali Abdulmajeed’s Sitra side came out with renewed intent after the interval and almost struck immediately. Captain Vincent Emmanuel tried an audacious outside-the-boot effort from distance just moments after the restart, but the attempt slid narrowly wide.

The hosts continued to show flashes of promise, though winger Kennyd de Lucas was forced off through injury and replaced by Bekaye Wade. Karl Namnganda later tested Al Ain goalkeeper Hassan Sani with a long-range strike, but the shot was comfortably dealt with.

Just when it seemed Al Ain might break the deadlock, the 84th minute brought drama. The referee called for a pitch-side VAR review to check a potential penalty on Sitra, ruling that Carlos Cavafe Fernandez had clipped Mohammed Awadalla inside the box. Awadalla stepped up for the spot kick but blazed it high over the bar, giving Sitra a reprieve and keeping their slim hopes alive.

Those hopes were dashed in the 90th minute by a moment of brilliance. A long ball was worked wide before a short cross was headed on by Ibrahima Ndiaye. Nineteen-year-old Jonas Naafo cushioned the ball in midair and executed a stunning overhead kick into the top corner, leaving Sitra goalkeeper Youssef Habib with no chance.

The late winner lifted Al Ain to nine points in Group A, cementing their position as one of the competition’s strongest sides. Sitra, meanwhile, remain bottom with two points from five matches and are now mathematically eliminated.

The Bahraini side will now travel to Iraq for a dead-rubber final group match against already-qualified group leaders Zakho on February 17 at 6:30pm, offering one last chance to close out the campaign on a positive note.