Belmadi eyes glory as Al Duhail seal League Stage spot

Al Duhail SC head coach Djamel Belmadi has eyes fixed on winning silverware this season after the Qatari side booked their place in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite 2025/26 League Stage with a 3-2 win over Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC on Tuesday.

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First half strikes from Ibrahima Bamba, Adil Boulbina and Krzysztof Piatek saw off a spirited challenge from the Islamic Republic of Iran side as Al Duhail confirmed their return to the continental stage after having missed out last season.

"We achieved what was important in this match by qualifying for the League Stage," said Belmadi. "We performed well in the first half, had many opportunities and were able to come back after falling behind scoring three goals.

"The second half saw a slight drop in performance but my team was able to maintain the lead despite our opponents closing the gap."

With the League Stage Draw taking place on Friday and the Qatar Stars League kicking off a day earlier, Belmadi is already focused on the challenges ahead.