A week of decisive moments in the Middle Eastern football season has created celebrations and tears across the region.
In the United Arab Emirates, Shabab Al Ahly won the league and saw the Burj Khalifa decorated in the club's red and green colours.
In Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal won the Saudi King Cup, its 66th title, after a victory over Al Wehda.
Coach Ramon Diaz has left the club with his son, Emiliano, set to guide the team in their remaining games this season - including the Saudi Clásico against Al Ittihad.
Meanwhile Al Arabi won Qatar’s Amir Cup, after thrashing Al Sadd 3-0, with Omar Al Somah and Hamid Ismail scoring the goals.
In Africa, the CAF Champions League semis saw Egypt’s Al Ahly beat Taraji Esperance Tunis 3-0, with a fantastic display from Percy Tau, who scored a brace.
The Ahlawys are on track for another Champions League final.
In the other semi, Wydad Casablanca drew 0-0 with Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, in a packed Mohammed V Stadium. A difficult task awaits the Moroccans in the second leg in Pretoria.
🇲🇦Wydad Casablanca's amazing supporters 👏#TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/faCrQGY9AE
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) May 14, 2023
Transfer market warms up
As seasons slowly start to wrap up, the transfer window approaches, bringing with it some exciting deals.
During the past weekend, Jordan national team star Mousa Al Tamari signed with French club Montpellier, becoming the first Jordanian player ever in Ligue 1.
In Germany, Dortmund's Mahmoud Dahoud is reportedly on the verge of joining Brighton and Hove Albion.
If this deal goes through, Dahoud, born in Amuda, Syria, will become the first ever Syrian and Kurdish player to play in the Premier League.
Twelve years after Feras Al-Khatib and Omar Al Somah landed in Nottingham Forest for trials, but never received those work permits, the United Kingdom might get an introduction to one of the real talents of Bilad a-sham.
And finally, Zaid Qunbar, the star of West Bank Premier League champions Jabel Mukaber, signed for the Jordanian giants Al Wehdat.
Qunbar grew up in Beitar Jerusalem's youth system in Israel football, starred in their U17 team and was even called up to the Israeli U17 national team.
He was released from the Jerusalem club after radical fans protested against the possibility of him playing for the club's senior team.
He moved to Hapoel Hadera, and then Hapoel Tel Aviv, but failed to receive the chance he had been waiting for.
And then the opportunity on the other side of his hometown arrived.
Jabel Mukaber, the club where his older brother, Shehab Qunbar, played, had attracted the youngster, who immediately made an impact for his new side.
In his first season in the starting lineup, Qunbar notched nine goals for Mukaber, and was a vital part of their first championship title in 12 years.
He has now followed in his older brother's footsteps, who also played for the Green Hulk from Amman, signing a one year contract.
It’s one hell of a story. An Eastern Jerusalem Arab talent, who made his first steps in football at a right-wing club on the Israeli side of the city, went on to become a marquee signing for one of the most significant Palestinian symbols in sports: Al Wehdat, the club from the famous Palestinian refugee camp in the western part of the Jordanian capital.
A transfer saga that only Palestinian football can create.
New for @Transfermarkt
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) May 12, 2023
Mo Dahoud appears to be headed to Brighton. And it might be just the right place for the midfielder to finally unleash his Gündogan-esque potential #BHAFC
Read it HERE 👇https://t.co/82ilLEiFiH
The inauguration of the Pele International Stadium
On Sunday, the Al Khader Stadium in Bethlehem was re-inaugurated as the Pelé International Stadium Al Khader.
A ceremony in the presence of Jordan FA President Ali bin Hussein, Qatar FA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani and former Egyptian FA president and current member of the FIFA Council and a member of CAF Executive Committee, Hany Abu Rida.
They all joined Palestinian FA president Jibril Rajoub.
A friendly match followed, between the Palestinian Olympic team and the Jordanian Olympic team, ending in a 2-1 victory for the latter.
Edited by Alex Smith
Today, Al Khader Stadium in #Bethlehem was re-inaugurated under its new name:
— Uri Levy (@Levyninho) May 14, 2023
𝐏𝐞𝐥é 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐀𝐥 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 🇵🇸🏟️
🇯🇴 Jordan FA President Ali bin Hussein and 🇶🇦 Qatar FA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani were present. pic.twitter.com/zGwOzrgWuD
