Back in the Spotlight: Nawaf Al-Aqidi Scrapes By Yet Another Asian Blunder

What happened

The Saudi goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi narrowly escaped a costly error during Al-Nassr's AFC Champions League 2 clash with Arkadag, keeping the aggregate tight as the home side pressed for a win.

Al-Nassr started with Al-Aqidi in goal and secured a 1-0 victory at First Park in the second leg of the round of 16, leaving the tie still in doubt as Asian duties continue.

The incident that grabbed attention came in the 77th minute when Al-Aqidi moved off his line to meet a long ball from midfield, briefly exposing the goal.

He recovered quickly, darting back to clear the danger, though his body language suggested nerves, and he even signalled with a quiet gesture to someone in the crowd.

It was his first appearance for Al-Nassr in over a month after he was sent off against Al-Hilal on January 12 in the Roshen League, a setback that had kept him out of action for the time being.

The slip was the second consecutive error after a similar lapse in a 1-2 loss to Al-Qadisiyah, prompting coach Jorge Jesus to lean on Brazilian keeper Bento in subsequent matches.

Despite the hiccup, Al-Aqidi remained with the club in the winter window as he sought more playing time ahead of the 2026 World Cup with the Saudi national team, and he eventually stayed with the squad.

Football often rests on narrow margins, and this night underscored the fine line between hero and near-miss in Asia's competitive landscape.

For a man who dodged a bullet, one wonders if the ball now owes him a coffee. If goalkeeping had a soap opera, Al-Aqidi would be its perpetual cliff-hanger.