AL-AIN: Abdullah Ramadan’s sensational 40-yard strike and slick footwork from former Fulham winger Neeskens Kebano propelled underdogs Al-Jazira to a well-earned 2-1 ADIB Cup final triumph over the high-profile Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club on Saturday night.
The Hazza bin Zayed Stadium proved a fitting stage for this gripping clash between two UAE football heavyweights. On a day that saw Sharjah’s serial-winning coach Cosmin Olaroiu confirmed as the new national team head coach, Ramadan, overcoming an injury-hit season, delivered a stunning reminder of his abilities with a long-distance rocket in the 18th minute.
The slender lead for the ADIB Cup’s sixth-placed outsiders didn’t last long, however. Prolific Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun equalized in the 50th minute, pouncing on his own rebound. But momentum quickly swung back to Paulo Sousa’s side when, just five minutes later, Kebano’s dazzling stepovers and low driven finish handed Al-Jazira the lead once more.
Despite dominating possession with 62 percent and out-shooting Jazira 17-9, Shabab Al-Ahli never seriously threatened a comeback, as the final whistle confirmed Al-Jazira’s second ADIB Cup title and only their third major trophy since 2017-2018.
Here are some key talking points from a memorable final, explored by Arab News:
A New Era for Al-Jazira
The 2024-2025 season has signaled significant transformation for Al-Jazira.
The club saw the departure of legend and record goal scorer Ali Mabkhout to Al-Nasr, and for the first time since Abel Braga’s short-lived 2015 spell, they entered a campaign without an established Dutch figure at the helm. Hussein Ammouta of Morocco has overseen a season of mixed performances so far, but this final may mark a turning point.
Big names performed when it mattered: 2018 World Cup winner Nabil Fekir showcased his trademark flair, while Mohamed Elneny, the former Arsenal stalwart, impressed in a more unfamiliar centre-back role. Ammouta’s known ability to inspire, seen most recently during Jordan’s surprise 2023 AFC Asian Cup final run, was clearly evident again.
Young talents like Mamadou Coulibaly, Vinicius Mello, Ravil Tagir, and Ilyass Lagrimi rose to the occasion. This performance could be the start of a bold, new chapter in the club’s story.
Shabab Al-Ahli Continue to Stumble at the Final Hurdle
It’s a familiar narrative for Shabab Al-Ahli—success just out of reach.
Their ADIB Cup final loss compounds earlier exits in crucial tournaments: knocked out in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off by Qatar’s Al-Gharafa, and suffering penalty heartbreak in the AFC Champions League Two quarterfinals against Sharjah.
Despite the potential haul of trophies this season—including the Adnoc Pro League, President’s Cup, Qatar–UAE Challenge Shield, and Emaar Super Cup—there’s a sense of missed opportunity.
Local talents like Yahya Al-Ghassani and Harib Abdalla (an unused sub on the night), along with Sultan Adil, could inject much-needed freshness up front. With an 11-point lead in the league, albeit with Sharjah holding a match in hand, this period offers a chance for rotation and experimentation as they regroup.
A Final Worthy of the Hype
Far from the underwhelming spectacle that big-stage finals sometimes become post-ceremony, this event lived up to the billing.
Pre-match festivities featured traditional Emirati dancers and pyrotechnics, reaching a unique high point as sponsor ADIB’s ATM contraption delivered the match ball—a novel and crowd-pleasing moment.
The football that followed didn’t disappoint. Al-Jazira’s counter-attacking style effectively neutralized the more fancied opponents’ flair. Buoyed by a lively crowd in Al-Ain, this was a chance for UAE football to shine on the big stage—and it most certainly did.
V.2 Editorial Team
