FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN’S Riffa are all geared up to kick off their title bid this evening in the 2026-27 Gulf Club Champions League.
The kingdom’s squad face off with Al Nasr SC of the UAE in a Group B away clash at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. The game is scheduled for a 7pm kick-off, Bahrain time.
Riffa head coach Mohamed Mashaan expressed confidence in his team ahead of their opening assignment.
Speaking in his pre-game Press conference yesterday, Mashaan said that Riffa have a squad of excellent players who are capable of taking on any challenge, and added that they are committed to performing well and achieving a positive result in their contest against Nasr.
Mashaan voiced his respect for their Emirati opponents, whom he described as strong competitors with quality players.
Also taking place yesterday ahead of the first day of action, the pre-game technical meeting was held, attended by officials from Riffa, Nasr, and the Gulf Football Federation. All administrative matters were settled, and the teams’ uniforms for tonight’s game were approved.
Riffa are Bahrain’s lone side amongst the 12 participating clubs – the tournament’s largest-ever field. Also in Group B are Qatar SC of Qatar and Al Zawraa of Iraq, who face off in Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha today at 5.45pm, also Bahrain time.
Group A features Neom SC from Saudi Arabia, Al Duhail SC from Qatar, Al Shabab SC from Oman, and Shaab Hadramaut SC from Yemen; while Group C is composed of Al Ettifaq SC of Saudi, Ajman SC of the UAE, Erbil SC from Iraq, and Kazma SC from Kuwait.
Following the double round-robin preliminaries, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, together with the two best third-placed sides, with all ties contested over two legs.