Securing a triumph over their rivals, Al Hilal, in their most recent match, the reigning champions have ensured keeping the trophy in Riyadh for this second edition of the Saudi Women’s Premier League.
Context
Al-Nassr, the defending champions, have asserted their dominance in this year’s Saudi Arabia’s premier women’s football league. Despite facing challenges from Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad in the league’s initial phases, Lina Boussaha’s teammates successfully retained the trophy in Riyadh.
The revitalized Al-Ittihad appeared to be the formidable team to surpass in the 2023/2024 season, having bolstered their squad with international signings like Ashleigh Plumptre and Salma Amani. However, Al-Nassr’s team demonstrated greater efficiency throughout the season, leveraging a blend of foreign talents and Saudi national team stars.
Al-Hilal, last season’s runners-up were also up for the challenge. Al-Shabab, Eastern Flames, Al-Riyadh, Al-Qadisiyah, and Al-Ahli complete the 8-teams league.
A Second Title In A Row For Al-Nassr
Al-Nassr secured the title of the Saudi Women’s Premier League after defeating its traditional rival, Al-Hilal (4-2) in round 11.
At Al-Nassr Stadium in the capital, Riyadh, the home team took control of the match early on when the Tanzanian Clara Luvanga scored the first goal in the 3rd minute before her fellow Saudi midfielder Sarah Al-Hamad added the second goal in the 13th minute.
At the 30-minute mark, the Ghanaian striker Mavis Owusu reduced the difference for Al Hilal and kept her team in the match.
In the second half, the home side continued to control the course of the match, with Saudi striker Mbaraka Al-Sayari adding the third goal, before French-Algerian midfielder Lina Boussaha added the fourth goal from a free kick.
Al Hilal scored their second goal in the middle of the second half through their Iraqi striker Shokhan Salehi but that was not enough.
Al-Nassr now has 31 points, expanding the gap to 14 points with his opponent, and ensuring this season’s title for the second time in a row with 3 rounds left to play before the conclusion of the season.
Al Hilal fell from third to fourth place with 16 points.
Saudi Arabia, A New Destination For Worldwide Superstars
Al-Ittihad surely stole the 2023 summer transfer window’s spotlight when announcing the signing of former Leicester City player, Ashleigh Plumptre.
Despite interests from the likes of Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, the 25-year-old Nigerian defender chose the Kingdom as the destination of her upcoming challenge.
Since then, she has been joined by Morocco’s star Salma Amani, the Swedish attacker Nor Mustafa who had a spell at West Ham, as well as Liverpool’s former defender Leighanne Robe.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced through a social media post that this season featured 54 foreign players hailing from 24 different countries, underscoring the league’s bright future and potential.
Players Per Club
Al-Nassr: Clara Luvanga, Aminata Diallo, Ghada Ayadi, Lina Boussaha, Samia Ouni, Izabela Stalin, and Maysa Jbarah.
Al-Hilal: Eman Hassan, Shokhan Nooraldin, Elizabeth Addo, and Anastasiya Linnik.
Al-Ittihad: Layla Iskandar, Salma Amani, Ashleigh Plumptre, Leighanne Robe, Nor Mustafa, Malak Shannak, and Shahnaz Jebreen.
Al-Ahli: Ayah AlMajali, Alice Kusi, Naomie Kaba Kaba, Cecilia Hagan, Abla Bensenouci, Ibtissam Jraidi
Al-Shabab: Mai Swelem, Oriana Altuve, Chaima AlAbbassi, Rita Chikwelu, Ella Kaabachi, Lana Feras.
Al-Riyadh: Omnia Abdelhamid, Aroa Gomez, Carla Gomez,
Eastern Flames: Sevinj Jafarzade, Maria Khan, Enekia Kasonga, Zaneta Wyne, Ximena Mideros, Tochukwu Oluehi, Jessica Emmanuella, Erica Cunningham
Al-Qadsiyah: Rayanne Machado, Elizabeth Carabali
A reminder that you can watch the Saudi Women’s Premier League live on DAZN Women’s Football YouTube channel.
Read the full article here
