New Coach, Old Troubles: Zawraa Fall 2-1 in Tajikistan
22 October 2025
Match Overview
Zawraa, under their new Egyptian head coach Emad Al-Nahas, opened his tenure with a 2-1 defeat away to Independence (Dushanbe) in Tajikistan, in the third round of AFC Champions League 2 Group D.
Zawraa went ahead when Nigerian forward Ibrahim Tomio finished from just outside the box in the fourth minute after a bright buildup.
Amirbek Djuraboyev equalized for Independence in the 20th minute with a precise header from a well-delivered cross.
Second Half and Result
In the 84th minute, the hosts grabbed the winner through Pavel Komulav, sealing the three points in a lively finish.
Independence rose to six points, sitting second in the group behind leaders Al-Nassr who have nine.
Zawraa remain on three points after their earlier 2-0 win against Goa in the first round and a defeat to Al-Nassr in the group stage.
The Iraqi side had sacked coach Abdul Ghani Shahid following a league defeat to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya on Oct 5 and appointed Emad Al-Nahas, who had recently left Egyptian giants Al Ahly, to take charge.
With the group stage still early, Zawraa must win their remaining matches — home games against Independence and Goa — and secure a positive result against Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Event highlights: Emad Al-Nahas fielded a balanced lineup with Ibrahim Tomio up front and three midfielders in Rashdan, Hassan Saeed, and Mahdi Al-Hamidan.
Early in the game, a long ball reached Tomio, who finished clinically from the edge of the penalty area to give the visitors the lead.
Independence struck back in the first half through a well-worked cross and header to level the score, leaving the sides level at the break.
After the break, Independence pressed, and the late winner came when Komulav converted a rebound after a defensive mishap.
Despite the loss, Zawraa showed resilience as they chase a tricky group stage path involving Nassr, Independence, and Goa.
Ultimately, Nassr leads the group with nine points, with Independence on six and Zawraa on three, as the Iraqi side looks to rebound in their next fixtures.
Old-School Legacy: Zawraa remains one of Iraq’s most storied clubs, founded in Baghdad in 1969 and nicknamed “The Swallows,” a symbol of Iraqi football tradition.
The squad’s rich history and large fanbase continue to sustain expectations that they can compete at the continental level despite current results.
Punchline time: If defending were an art, Zawraa’s defense would charge admission for the spectators—every time the opposition look lucky, the ball magically finds its way into the net. Punchline two: Emad Al-Nahas might have a tough start, but hey, even a recipe needs a few burns to know it’s cooking.
