Al-Nassr's Al-Ghannam Vows to Deliver for Fans in India's AFC CL2 Showdown
21 October 2025
Sultan Al-Ghannam, a key player for Al-Nassr, spoke to fans ahead of the AFC Champions League 2 clash against Goa in India, set to take place tomorrow at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
In the press conference held on the eve of the match, he said: “We promise the fans that we will keep working hard, win titles, and make them proud.”
He added: “Tactical decisions are up to the coach; whether I am in attack or defense, I am ready. We play for a big club, so we always think offensively.”
“We hope the fans attending the game enjoy the performance, and we aim to win. We know India is known for football, so the match should be a beautiful one.”
He closed by noting that the presence of seasoned players has a big impact, and that the Saudi Roshen League is among the strongest leagues globally, with Saudi football continuing to evolve.
Al-Nassr Without Ronaldo and Brozović, and the Group Picture
Al-Nassr competes in AFC Champions League 2, in Group 4 with Iraq’s Al-Zawraa, Tajikistan’s Istiklol Dushanbe, and India’s Goa. The team currently leads the group with six points after a 5-0 victory over Istiklol Dushanbe and a 2-0 win against Al-Zawraa, while Goa sits at the bottom with zero points.
According to reports, Ronaldo will miss the Goa match as head coach Jorge Jesus opts to rotate several foreign players to manage fatigue, giving others a chance to start.
Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozović is also expected to miss the Goa game, with a return planned for the King’s Cup clash against Al-Ittihad on October 28. Brozović suffered a minor groin tear in the win over Fajr (Al-Fath) on Saturday, prompting the coach to make adjustments.
Brozović has been a cornerstone in the midfield since joining from Inter Milan, bringing balance and tactical discipline. The Riyadh-based paper noted the lineup expected for Goa: Goalkeeper Bento Matheus; Defense Nawaf Bousshel, Abdulrahman Al-Omari, Inigo Martinez, Sultan Al-Ghannam; Midfield Abdullah Al-Khibrri, Angelo Gabriel, Joao Felix; Attack Sadio Mane, Ayman Yahya, Kingsley Coman.
As the images of the lineup circulated, the match highlighted a clash of styles: a high-pressing, attacking Al-Nassr against a Goa side eager to prove their mettle away from home.
In a related note, a Getty Images feature captured the moment, underscoring the high expectations for this cross-continental duel.
Round 5 Attendance, Player of the Round, and a Hint of Transfer Talk
Official Round Roshen Saudi statistics showed the strongest attendance in Round 5 came from Al-Nassr, with 18,763 fans turning up for the clash against Al-Fateh. Al-Ahli followed with 14,590 in their duel against Al-Shabab at the Aluminium Stadium, and Al-Ettifaq attracted 10,817 in their match against Al-Hilal.
Darwin Nunez of Al-Hilal captured the Round 5 Player of the Match honor with 51.3% of the vote, ahead of Joao Felix (Nassr) with 45.5% and Joshua King of Al-Khaleej with 3.3%. Nunez’s 3-goal hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Al-Ettifaq helped clinch the award.
Discussion around the national team coach position also resurfaced: Jorge Jesus was reportedly among the leading candidates to take the helm of the Green, before accepting the challenge at Al-Hilal. Officials later indicated negotiations were not entirely smooth, with Mancini also discussed before the final decision.
To illustrate the scale of the league’s reach, a separate Getty Images feature later showed the broader impact of the campaign on clubs and fans alike.
Punchlines aside, if this season keeps rolling with such pace, even the goalkeepers will need a spare pair of gloves—one for saves, one for punchlines. And as for the sniper in me, I’d say: my jokes are always on target, just not always onside with the ref’s whistle.
