Derby Downfall: Jesus Questions the Keeper and the Red Card in Riyadh Showdown
13 January 2026
Riyadh Derby Fallout
Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, head coach of Al-Nassr, blasted goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi after the Riyadh derby defeat to Al-Hilal, 1-3, in the 15th round of the Roshn Saudi Pro League.
Impact of the Red Card
Al-Aqidi was sent off in the 60th minute, and the red card clearly unsettled Al-Nassr, allowing Al-Hilal to add two goals.
Jesus on the Call and Mental State
Jesus said after the match that they were the better team before the sending off, but suffered a clear imbalance after the referee’s decision.
He added that the referee’s decision is not correct, that the goalkeeping situation has become difficult, and that he will look for necessary solutions.
Jesus noted that Al-Aqidi’s action was linked to his mental state, and that technically the player was delivering what was required; accountability would come only if there were disciplinary violations.
Context and Outlook
He concluded that he knows Al-Hilal well, that they excel in such matches and have a good mental state, while Al-Nassr has been struggling since the injury to Siemakan and Mane’s absence.
Punchline 1: If mental state were a goalkeeper, Nawaf would be in the cheap seats—watching the action from afar while the ball scores again.
Punchline 2: In football, a red card can end a match; tonight it ended Al-Nassr’s momentum and gave Jesus a fresh set of jokes for the press conference.
