Saudi Stars Shuffle: Renard Reworks Attack as Obaid Gets Shelved for Iraq Clash
10 October 2025
Injury Forces Squad Shuffle
The Saudi Football Federation announced that Abdulrahman Al-Obaid, the Al-Ittihad winger, has been left out of the squad preparing to face Iraq in the Asia playoff for the 2026 World Cup.
The federation posted on X that Renard, the head coach, decided to exclude Al-Obaid from the training camp after the injury he sustained in Thursday's session.
Medical examinations showed a jaw injury, and he was referred to a specialist at a hospital in Jeddah to determine the appropriate treatment, in coordination between the national team medical staff and Al-Ittihad's medical team in line with standard procedures.
Al-Obaid's absence comes ahead of the Iraq game in the second leg of the Asia playoff, forcing Renard to focus on the attacking options available, especially with the impressive form of forwards Firas Al-Breikan and Saleh Abu Al-Shamat in the previous match against Indonesia, where they scored the winning goals in the 3-2 victory.
Notable Form and International Stats
Abdulrahman Al-Obaid has been delivering standout performances for Al-Ittihad, contributing to last season's domestic double in the Roshen Pro League and the King’s Cup, and he has been a key piece for Renard's plans.
He has appeared in 148 matches for Al-Ittihad, scoring 13 goals and providing 22 assists. Internationally, the 30-year-old has 11 caps and 2 goals, with his first international appearance coming in late 2021.
Absence and Return
While Saudi Arabia misses Al-Obaid, the Green squad welcomes back Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, who has been cleared for the Iraq match after being substituted in the second half of the Indonesia game due to injury.
Renard received good news ahead of the Iraq clash, with Abu Al-Shamat's readiness confirmed for the World Cup playoff.
International Breakthrough and Assessment
Abu Al-Shamat, who plays for Al-Ahli Jeddah, marked his international breakthrough with a goal after a show of dribbling and a shot from outside the box, a strike that helped set the tone for the victory.
He was the second-highest rated Saudi player in the Indonesia match, with a 7.9 rating, behind Firas Al-Breikan, who scored twice.
Club Growth and Season Highlights
Since joining Al-Ahli Jeddah from Gulf, the 23-year-old has been a genuine addition to the attack, aided by the keen eye of coach Matthias Jaissle, and has earned more opportunities to showcase his abilities.
Last season he had one goal and six assists in 31 appearances for Gulf, and he has started the season strongly for the Reds. In recent matches, his performances have been highly rated, including a standout display against Nasaf with a Sofascore rating of 8 and his involvement in turning a two-goal deficit into a 4-0 comeback win.
Even with limited international experience, he provided a key assist in the friendly against North Macedonia. In the Intercontinental Cup clash with Pyramids, he was among the team's top performers behind the goalkeeper Edward Mendy. He played 60 minutes, completed two of three dribbles, and posted a 75% pass accuracy according to Sofascore.
Across this season, Abu Al-Shamat has continued to push for a regular role, competing with other top attackers and showing growth in each appearance.
Punchline 1: If football were an improv show, Renard would yell, Let’s wing it, and somehow the script ends with a goal and an audience that still claps.
Punchline 2: The only thing sharper than Abu Al-Shamat’s dribbles lately might be Renard’s press conference quips—goal numbers growing faster than the jokes.
