Raja Casablanca Stuns Al Ahli Jeddah in a Saudi Arabian Friendly

Match recap

Al Ahli Jeddah, one of Saudi Arabia's top clubs, has chosen a different path from its arch-rivals Al Ittihad and Al Nassr in the current batch of friendlies, forced by the Arab Cup 2025 pause. The aim is to sharpen the squad's cohesion and keep players sharp, though results so far lean more toward timing than trophies.

Friday's clash in Jeddah ended 2-1 in favor of Raja Casablanca at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium. Enzo Milot gave the hosts the lead in the fifth minute, but Senegalese forward Babi Sakho struck twice to hand the Moroccan side the win.

Notes from the rest of the week and what comes next

Al Ahli could not mirror Al Ittihad's earlier big showing, as the other Saudi side thrashed a UAE-based side 6-0 in their latest warm-up. In contrast, Al Nassr downed Al Wahda 4-2 at the Al Nahyan Stadium in another friendly.

The team nicknamed "the Maroons" is set to resume official duties, traveling to face Al-Shorta of Iraq on December 22 for the sixth matchday of the AFC Champions League Elite. Fans hope the upcoming games translate warm-up form into competitive results.

Next up, the competition calendar awaits, and nerves will be tested—because football is the one game where a lead can vanish faster than a halftime snack.

Punchline 1: If defense were a comedian, Al Ahli would be the warm-up act — and yes, the crowd still laughs, mostly at the scoreboard.

Punchline 2: In football, a lead is just a suggestion—like a rumor, but with more running and less coffee break.