September Showdown: Laba Kodjo Tops UAE Pro League Awards as Al Ain Dominate September 2025

Winners for September 2025

The UAE Pro League announced the recipients of September 2025’s Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Coach awards for the ongoing 2025-2026 season. The honors recognize standout performances across the month, blending individual brilliance with team success.

The Togolese forward Laba Kodjo of Al Ain captured the Best Player award, edging out a list of strong contenders including Moroccan Karim El Barkawi of Al Dhafra, Iraqi Mohanned Ali of Dibba, Serbian Dusan Tadic of Al Wahda, and Iranian Ahmad Nour Allah of Khor Fakkan.

In a month that saw Kodjo net four goals in three games, he stretched his lead atop the UAE Pro League scoring chart to seven goals overall. Kareem El Barkawi contributed five goals in three appearances for Al Dhafra, placing him second in the league’s scoring race with six on the season.

Dusan Tadic contributed three appearances with one assist for Al Wahda, Mohanned Ali struck twice for Dibba in three matches, and Ahmad Nour Allah, captain of Khor Fakkan, delivered influential performances with key passes and control in midfield.

Goalkeeper Spotlight

Khaled Eissa of Al Ain won Best Goalkeeper honors, surpassing finalists Ali Al-Hosni (Ajman) and Mohamed Ali Al-Wali (Al Wasl). Eissa’s rise helped the “Leader” maintain top spot with robust shot-stopping across the month and a strong start to the season overall.

The Al Ain stopper’s form contributed to the team’s current run, and his performances left him well clear in the defensive metrics, offering a glimpse into why Al Ain currently sit near the top of the table.

Best Coach

The Serbian Vladimir Ivic, head coach of Al Ain, claimed the Best Coach award ahead of fellow Serb Fok Razovic of Al Fard? and Portuguese Luis Castro of Al Wasl. Ivic tied on wins and draws with his rivals, but public fan voting tipped the scale in favor of the Zaeem’s boss due to the fans’ faith in his system.

Positive Numbers and Open Play Creativity

The league’s opening rounds delivered a flurry of positive statistics: 83 goals across five rounds, a sign of attacking intent and competitive parity. Notably, 47 of those goals came from open play, with 35 matches played; 19 were decided by a one-goal margin, seven by two goals, two by three, and one standout 4-0 victory (Al Jazira over Bani Yas) that showcased the gap that can open up in a single match day.

Set pieces contributed 36 goals, with 15 from corners and 13 from penalties. Even late drama—goals in minute 90 and beyond—appeared, though those late goals mostly came from visiting teams, underscoring the league’s balanced home-and-away battles.

Three clubs shared the top-scorer tally (six players contributing), namely Al Wasl, Khor Fakkan, and Sharjah. Khor Fakkan led scoring by substitutes with four goals, followed by Sharjah with three. Al Ain, despite leading the table, faced a league-wide pattern where teams spent much of their time ahead or level, with the unit’s goalkeeper work anchoring the top positions.

The standings narrative shows Al Ain leading on 13 points, two ahead of Al Wahda in second, and three clear of Khor Fakkan, Shabab Al-Ahli, and Al Wasl in third, fourth, and fifth, where goal difference keeps the table in balance.

Al Dhafra occupy sixth on nine points, nudging Ajman into seventh, while Al Nasr sit eighth on eight points, one behind Al Jazira in ninth. Sharjah is tenth, with Khor Fakkan eleventh, and Al Bateeh twelfth. Dibba sits thirteenth and Bani Yas brings up the rear in fourteenth, as the league’s early months set the stage for an exciting stretch run heading into October.

In sum, September’s awards highlighted not only individual brilliance but also the league’s evolving competitive balance, with Al Ain striking early chords and a constellation of players across teams contributing to a dynamic campaign ahead.

Punchline time, sniper style: Boom—defense is jealous of how sharp the attackers are; the scoreboard didn’t miss a beat. Sniper’s wink: If my jokes had assists, they’d probably set up the punchline for the goalie to save. And finally: scorelines may matter, but my punchlines have already hit their target—right in the funny-bone.