Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
This season has been a really busy one for those minding the silverware cabinets at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, the home of Al Ain's football teams.
The club has been omnipresent in a remarkable all-conquering 2025-2026 season. Within a fortnight of the first team securing the domestic double of the ADNOC Pro League and the UAE President's Cup, their Under-19, U17, U15 and U14 teams also celebrated successful domestic campaigns.
The club's academy continued its impressive run as its Under-17 side were crowned champions on Sunday night in the UAE's U17 Super Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Emirates in the final at Shabab Al Ahli Stadium in Al Awir. Mohamed Rasoul Diop and Mohamed Jawla were on target for Al Ain, with Robert Emile replying for Emirates.
The triumph adds to an already stellar campaign for the Garden City club, who have swept aside opposition across multiple age groups. In addition to the senior team's triumph in the flagship Pro League, Al Ain have claimed another two main age-group tournaments, thus underlining their position as the most dominant force in UAE football.
Omar Al Muhairi, a member of the UAE Football Association's board of directors, attended the Under-17 awards ceremony and presented the medals and trophy to the victorious Al Ain players, coaching staff and management.
Al Ain booked their place in the final with an emphatic 6-1 semi-final win over Al Wasl, while Emirates advanced following a 3-0 victory against Ras Al Khaimah.
Meanwhile, in the U14 Cup final, also played on Sunday, Al Ain's A team defeated Al Wahda 3-1 at Al Nasr Stadium to claim the title. Adam Bouguerra, Omar Momen and Kidalio Sa found the net for the champions, with Khaled Mansour scoring Al Wahda's consolation goal.
The young Al Ain side showed their quality throughout the competition, recording convincing group stage victories over Hispania (5-0), Al Wasl (2-1), Al Bataeh (5-0) and Shabab Al Ahli (2-1), before overcoming Emirates 2-1 in the semi-final.
These latest successes highlight the strength and depth of Al Ain's academy system, which has consistently produced competitive teams capable of challenging for honours at every level. The club's ability to win across both senior and youth categories in the same season marks a significant achievement and sets a high benchmark for other UAE clubs.
