“The ADIB Cup was the only title we could win this season, and I’m very glad we did it tonight,” said a visibly proud Hussein Ammouta after Al Jazira stunned heavyweights Shabab Al Ahli 2-1 in Saturday’s League Cup final at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
It was more than just a win. For a club that had endured a few quiet seasons since lifting the ADNOC Pro League title in 2021, the result was a statement — one that came against the league leaders and one of the most dominant teams in the UAE.
We haven’t had success since 2021. It’s a joyous moment for the players, the management, and the fans. Now we must focus on improving our league position.
Currently sixth in the ADNOC Pro League with five matches remaining, Al Jazira’s campaign has been a story of rebuilding under Ammouta, who took over at the beginning of the season. The Moroccan tactician’s reputation has soared after this title win, so much so that speculation has already linked him to the Iraqi national team — a rumour the club was quick to deny in an official statement.
Playing with several key absences, Al Jazira were sharp, composed and tactically disciplined — a team that looked like it had something to prove. “We entered the match with many influential absences,” Ammouta said. “But my confidence in the players was great. They knew what was at stake, they understood the strength of Shabab Al Ahli, and they executed the plan perfectly.”
The result also had a layer of poetic justice — Al Jazira had lost the final of the same competition to Shabab Al Ahli in the 2013–14 season by the same scoreline. This win evened the head-to-head record between the two clubs in finals to 3-3.
Goal-scorer Kebano, who netted the decisive goal in the 55th minute, called it a “crowning achievement” for the players’ efforts. “I am very happy with my first title with Al Jazira. It’s a great achievement.”
The club’s path to the final was anything but easy. They edged out Al Ain on penalties (4-2) in the quarter-finals, then mounted a strong comeback against Al Wasl in the semi-finals, overturning a first-leg deficit to win 3-2 on aggregate.
The importance of the victory wasn’t lost on the footballing leadership in the UAE. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Football Association, led the tributes, congratulating His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court and Chairman of Al Jazira Club, as well as His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Honorary President of the club.
He also commended the technical staff, the resilience of the players, and the passionate support of the fans. “Al Jazira continues to contribute outstanding talent to the national team. Their success strengthens the profile of Emirati football both locally and on the global stage,” he said.
With this ADIB Cup — now in its third year under Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank sponsorship — Al Jazira have added a significant piece of silverware to their cabinet and broken a long spell of near-misses. More importantly, they’ve reignited belief.
As Ammouta put it best: “We focused on the important things on the pitch — and above all, the players never gave up.”
