Al-Sahel SC (Kuwait)
| Full name | Al-Sahel Sporting Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 | ||
| Ground | Abu Halifa City Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 2,000 | ||
| Chairman | Khalid Khalifa AL - Azmi | ||
| Manager | Mohammed Al-Azab | ||
| League | Kuwaiti Division One | ||
| 2025 | Kuwaiti Division One, 1st of 5 | ||
|
| |||
Al Sahel Sporting Club (Arabic: نادي الساحل الرياضي) is a Kuwaiti professional football club based in Abu Halifa in Al Ahmadi Governorate. Sahel were the runners-up in the 1999 Kuwait Emir Cup.[1]
History
Al-Sahel Sporting Club was founded in 1967 in Abu Halifa, located in the Al Ahmadi Governorate of Kuwait. The club was initially established as a cultural and social organization before transitioning into a sports club in the early 1970s, with football becoming its main activity.
In its early years, Al-Sahel primarily competed in the lower divisions of Kuwaiti football. Following league restructures in the late 1970s, the club briefly participated in the top tier, but spent much of its history moving between the Kuwaiti Premier League and Kuwaiti Division One.
One of the club’s most notable achievements came during the 1998–99 season, when Al-Sahel reached the final of the Kuwait Emir Cup, finishing as runners-up after losing 2–1 to Al-Arabi.
The club achieved success in the second tier by winning the Kuwaiti Division One title in the 2000–01 and 2009–10 seasons, earning promotion to the Kuwaiti Premier League on both occasions.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Al-Sahel continued to alternate between divisions due to relegations and promotions, reflecting its status as a competitive but mid-level club in Kuwaiti football. The team has remained active in national competitions, occasionally returning to the top division and maintaining a presence in Kuwait’s football structure.
Rivalries
Al-Sahel SC’s main rivalries are with neighboring clubs such as Al-Arabi SC and Al-Yarmouk SC, often resulting in highly competitive matches in both the Kuwaiti Premier League and Division One.
Stadium
Al-Sahel SC plays its home matches at Abu Halifa City Stadium, located in Abu Halifa, Kuwait. The stadium has a capacity of approximately 2,000 spectators.
Honors
- Kuwaiti Division One
- Champions (2): 2000–01, 2009–10[2]
- Kuwait Emir Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1998–99[3]
Recent seasons
| Season | League | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Kuwaiti Premier League | 10th (Relegated)[4] |
| 2021–22 | Kuwaiti Division One | 2nd (Promoted)[5] |
| 2022–23 | Kuwaiti Division One | 10th (Relegated)[6] |
| 2023–24 | Kuwaiti Division One | 3rd |
| 2024-25 | Kuwaiti Division One | 5th |
| 2025-26 | Kuwaiti Division One | 1st (As of March 18) |
Current squad
As of the 2025–26 season.[10]
| No. | Name | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | Meshal Al Rashidi | GK | Kuwait |
| – | Dhari Al Masri | GK | Kuwait |
| Defenders | |||
| 50 | Meshari Al Kandari | DF | Kuwait |
| 3 | Salman Al Dhufairi | DF | Kuwait |
| – | Victor Lisboa | DF | Brazil |
| – | Abdulaziz Mahran | DF | Kuwait |
| 6 | Abdulaziz Murad | DF | Kuwait |
| – | Mohammad Al Rabie | DF | Kuwait |
| 2 | Ali Ford | DF | Kuwait |
| – | Saad Al Azmi | DF | Kuwait |
| Midfielders | |||
| 33 | Christian Alex | MF | Nigeria |
| 72 | Shaheen Alkhamees | MF | Kuwait |
| 5 | Nasser Al Qahtani | MF | Kuwait |
| – | Lucas Lucena | MF | Brazil |
| – | Aiman Al Hagri | MF | Kuwait |
| 21 | Meshari Fayad | MF | Kuwait |
| Forwards | |||
| 29 | Allan Paulista | FW | Brazil |
| – | Malick Cisse | FW | Senegal |
| – | Birahim Gaye | FW | Senegal |
| 99 | Faisal Saad Ajab Al‑Azemi | FW | Kuwait[11] |
| 17 | Mohammed Al Aladhi | FW | Kuwait |
| 20 | Farhan Saad | FW | Kuwait |
| 21 | Abdullah Bather | FW | Kuwait |
Note: Player data based on squad listings from Sofascore as of March 2026..
Notable former players
Players included here have been documented playing for the club and recognized for wider impact in Kuwaiti football.
- Faisal Saad Ajab Al‑Azemi – Kuwaiti international forward who played for Al‑Sahel and elsewhere in the Kuwaiti Premier League.[12]
- Mohammad Frieh – defender and Kuwait international, began his career with Al‑Sahel before long spells at Al Arabi and Kuwait SC.[13]
- Franck Mbarga – Cameroonian‑German midfielder who played for Al‑Sahel in Kuwait’s top divisions.[14]
- Ahmad Ajab – Kuwaiti forward listed in historical squad documentation for the club (WorldFootball list of players).[15]
Coaches
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Zoran Đorđević |
| 1995 | Hussien Ali |
| 1995–97 | Tibor Sisa |
| 1998–00 | Saleh Al Asfor |
| 2000–01 | Muaed Al Ajmi |
| 2001 | Ahmad Hamed |
| 2001–03 | Mehmed Janjoš |
| 2003 | Saleh Al Asfor |
| 2004–05 | Mehmed Janjoš |
| 2006–10 | Aurel Ţicleanu |
| 2010 | Ali Hussain |
| 2010–11 | Marinko Koljanin |
| 2011–13 | Eugen Moldovan |
| 2015–17 | Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi |
| 2017 | Rashed Al-Boos |
| 2018–20 | Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi |
| 2020–23 | Mohammed Dehiles |
| 2023– | Mohammed Al-Azab |
See also
References
- ^ Qayed, Mohammed (7 January 2001). "Kuwait 1998/99". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "Kuwait - List of Second Level Champions". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Kuwait 1998/99". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Kuwait 2020/21". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Kuwait 2021/22". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Kuwait 2022/23". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Kuwait 2023/24". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Division 1 standings, Kuwait | Soccerway". www.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Kuwait Kuwait Division One 2025/26 Stats | FootyStats". footystats.org. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Al Sahel SC squad list". Sport24. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Faisal Ajab Al‑Azemi". Wikipedia. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Faisal Ajab Al‑Azemi". Wikipedia. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Mohammad Frieh". Wikipedia. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Franck Mbarga". Wikipedia. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Al Sahel » Players from A‑Z". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
External links
- Al Sahel Sporting Club (archived 7 March 2013)