Keeper Crisis Forces Al-Nassr to Tap AFC Aid Ahead of Dubai Showdown
29 March 2026
A mandatory step ahead of the Wasl showdown.
Keeper crisis drives AFC appeal
The corridors of the Saudi club Al-Nassr have seen intensive managerial maneuvering in recent hours, focused on solving the goalkeeping crisis the 'World' has been suffering from.
Amid preparations to resume activity after the international break in March, the management intensified its contact with the competent bodies at the Asian Football Confederation to register the young goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Ateeabi on the squad list for AFC Champions League 2.
The choice fell on Al-Ateeabi after the goalkeepers Ragid Al-Najjar and Mubarak Al-Bouainin suffered ACL injuries, according to their medical report.
A video feature sits here.
Upcoming clash and lineup
And Al-Nassr had registered four goalkeepers before the continental tournament kicked off, while Al-Ateeabi has progressed through the club's youth ranks and is currently playing with the Under-21 team in the Jooi Elite League.
On the international level, Al-Ateeabi has represented the Saudi under-17 team in 13 matches, including five in the Asian Cup, and has also appeared in three matches in the U-17 World Cup finals where his side conceded five times.
Al-Nassr is preparing to face Al Wasl Dubai in the quarterfinals, at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai, on April 19, with the winner to meet either Al Ahli Qatar or Hussein Jordan to decide the first finalist.
Al-Nassr has relied this season in goalkeeping on Brazilian Bento and international Nawaf Al-Aqidi, alongside the injured keepers Ragid Al-Najjar and Mubarak Al-Bouainin.
Humor break
Punchline 1: If the goalkeeper keeps saving nothing, maybe it's time to teach him how to summon an umbrella.
Punchline 2: If saves were stocks, this squad’s keeper would be a blue-chip asset — high risk, high reward.
