Winter Crown Secured: Gharafa Dominate Qatar Stars League as Al Ahli Stuns Duhail

Gharafa seal the winter crown with a 1-0 win over Al Wakrah

Gharafa extended their lead at the top of the Qatar Stars League to 25 points after a 1-0 victory over Al Wakrah at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, in round ten of the 2025-2026 season.

The win confirmed Gharafa as winter champions with two rounds left in the first half of the season, while Al Wakrah stayed in 5th place with 16 points.

Goal: Brahimi converted a 34th-minute penalty to decide the match and push Gharafa further clear at the summit.

The night also featured a separate clash where Al Ahli beat Al Duhail 3-2 at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, opening the round with fireworks of its own.

For Al Ahli, Omar Seko, Michel Flab, and Idris Fattouh found the net in the 17th, 36th, and 80th minutes respectively, while Louis Alberto and Edmilson replied for Al Duhail in the 2nd and 34th minutes. The hosts finished with ten men after Ali Jassim Mohammed was sent off following a VAR review, but Marwan Sharif denied Edmilson from the spot in stoppage time, preserving the winner’s lead.

Omar Seko was named the player of the match for his leadership in guiding Al Ahli to victory.

In the Duhail vs. Al Ahli duel, Al Ahli pressed from the start, with Louis Alberto breaking the deadlock early before Edmilson doubled the guests’ lead. The hosts answered through Louis Alberto again and a late strike from Edmilson to level 2-2 before halftime, but a defensive lapse and a late counter, finished off by Idris Fattouh, sealed the win for Al Ahli.

Despite the late scare, Al Ahli held on to clinch a 3-2 win and push their season tally to 12 points, while Duhail sat on eight. The game’s defining moment came with the red card and the dramatic late save, a reminder that in football, even a VAR decision can decide the night.

The match details

The officials included Abdullah Al Adhba (referee) and assistants, with VAR operated by a dedicated team, ensuring the drama remained on the field rather than the screen. The crowd witnessed a rollercoaster round that left the title race wide open as the league moves toward a busy festive period.

KOOORA

Gharafa and Wakrah

The contest between Gharafa and Wakrah produced a solitary goal, decided by a late penalty converted by Brahimi, while Wakrah pressed to find an equalizer but could not unlock the defense of the league leaders.

In the other game, a furious Duhail attack clashed with Al Ahli’s resilience, as Seiko’s and Flab’s strikes kept the visitors ahead before the red card shifted the balance and Marwan Sharif’s save cemented the result.

Gharafa’s winter title represents a landmark achievement; Al Wakrah’s steady form could not derail the leaders as the league heads toward the midpoint of the season.

Notes: The match was officiated by a full crew with video-assist technology providing key moments for on-field decisions.

Punchline time: If Gharafa’s lead were a sniper, it would be hitting bullseyes from the press box—silent, precise, and probably wearing a headshot of a trophy. And if Al Ahli keeps this pace, the table may need a bigger chair for their manager, because the title chase just got real, amigo.