From Palestine to Pittodrie: Oday Dabbagh proving a popular addition to Aberdeen’s attack

From Palestine to Pittodrie: Oday Dabbagh proving a popular addition to Aberdeen’s attack
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Dabbagh flashed a header wide just wide of the post, produced a lovely back heel to set up Topi Keskinen for a blocked shot and impressed with his hold up and link play. (VIA @oday_dabbagh)
From Palestine to Pittodrie: Oday Dabbagh proving a popular addition to Aberdeen’s attack
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Dabbagh flashed a header wide just wide of the post, produced a lovely back heel to set up Topi Keskinen for a blocked shot and impressed with his hold up and link play. (VIA @oday_dabbagh)
From Palestine to Pittodrie: Oday Dabbagh proving a popular addition to Aberdeen’s attack
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Dabbagh flashed a header wide just wide of the post, produced a lovely back heel to set up Topi Keskinen for a blocked shot and impressed with his hold up and link play. (VIA @oday_dabbagh)
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Updated 18 March 2025
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From Palestine to Pittodrie: Oday Dabbagh proving a popular addition to Aberdeen’s attack

From Palestine to Pittodrie: Oday Dabbagh proving a popular addition to Aberdeen’s attack
  • Club’s manager and supporters have taken the 26-year-old to their hearts after he scored 3 times since joining in February
  • Dabbagh’s next matches will be the World Cup qualifiers for Palestine against Jordan on Thursday, and then Iraq on March 25

PERTH: From Palestine to Pittodrie is a road less travelled, let alone by talented center-forwards, but Oday Dabbagh’s move to Aberdeen Football Club is proving to be a fruitful one.

Dabbagh has scored three goals in six games since he joined Aberdeen on loan at the beginning of February from Charleroi in Belgium, with the Scottish Premiership club securing an option to buy this summer.

There were no goals on Saturday at McDiarmid Park in Perth as his fourth-placed side drew 0-0 at relegation battlers St Johnstone. But there were plenty of examples of why the 26-year-old Palestinian has quickly become a popular figure at Aberdeen.

Dabbagh flashed a header wide just wide of the post, produced a lovely back heel to set up Topi Keskinen for a blocked shot and impressed with his hold up and link play.

The latter is especially true with Scotland international Kevin Nisbet, whom manager Jimmy Thelin has recently chosen to play just behind Dabbagh in Aberdeen’s attack.

“Oday is a good combination player,” Thelin told Arab News after the match. “He connects well with other players. I think him and Kevin have got a good relationship in the team. Oday has strengths.

“Today, we couldn’t give him so much to work on with the passes into the box, but he’s good at finding spots in the box and when he gets opportunities he’s really calm and finds the goals.”

The Swedish manager’s thoughts were echoed by St Johnstone defender Zach Mitchell, who described Dabbagh and the Aberdeen attack as a “threat” and that shutting them out was a “tough challenge.”

In Dabbagh’s previous match, Queen’s Park proved not as fortunate. That day Palestine’s record scorer — 16 goals from 45 caps — netted a double in the quarterfinal of the Scottish Cup at Pittodrie, Aberdeen’s home ground, in a 4-1 victory that earned a semifinal versus Hearts in April.

In a rollercoaster season for Aberdeen, the semifinal is an opportunity to get one step closer to winning silverware for the first time since 2014.

It is a bristling statistic for a club that enjoyed great success under the legendary Alex Ferguson in the 1980s, including three league title triumphs and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup and Super Cup trophies.

Under the guidance of Thelin, the club’s fifth manager since 2021, Aberdeen had a remarkable start to the season, winning 10 of their first 11 league matches and even briefly topping the Scottish Premiership table.

A dramatic decline that can be attributed to injury woes, defensive frailties and a lack of goals leaves Aberdeen a point behind third-placed Hibernian — who were bottom in November. The gap between Hibernian and Edinburgh rivals Hearts in sixth is a mere five points.

With champions Celtic once again comfortably ahead of second-placed Rangers, finishing third is the aim for Aberdeen in the league. Third place earns a spot in the second round of Europa League qualifying, while fourth seals the equivalent starting point in the Conference League.

Winning the Scottish Cup would earn Aberdeen coveted silverware and a Europa League playoff-round spot next season.

That leaves ample opportunity for Jerusalem-born Dabbagh to further endear himself to the Dons supporters. In the games prior to Dabbagh signing, Aberdeen had failed to score in five league matches and not won in the Scottish Premiership since Nov. 9.

“He’s the new type of striker that Aberdeen have needed this season,” Aberdeen fan Cameron Carnie told Arab News outside McDiarmid Park before the match on Saturday.

“He’s going to do well. He’s a lot more direct than the strikers we’ve had this season. I think it’s a different dynamic, and he’s good in the air as well. The fans have absolutely taken to him pretty well.

“Everyone wants him on a permanent deal. He’s shone enough already. Hopefully he just keeps on banging in the goals.”

Fellow fan Alan Hay, like Carnie from Aberdeen, a city in the northeast of Scotland famous for being the country’s oil capital, was of a similar mindset with regards to Dabbagh’s stint in a red shirt.

“It’s early days but there’s signs of promise,” said Hay. “He’s maybe trying a little bit hard at times but I’m feeling quite positive. There’s a quickness, an awareness and an alertness to his game.

“He’s willing to run. People love an exotic striker so it’s something a bit different. He’s got a bit of personality about him.”

Dabbagh is the first Palestine international to play in Scottish football’s top flight. The striker began his career with Palestinian club Hilal Al-Quds before moving to Kuwait.

He then signed with Al-Salmiya, Qadsia, Al-Yarmouk and then Al-Arabi where he won the Kuwait Premier League and became the league’s top scorer.

Dabbagh moved to Europe for the first time when he joined Portuguese side Arouca in 2021 before joining Charleroi on a three-year deal in 2023.

Dabbagh’s next matches will be for his national team against Jordan on Thursday, and then Iraq on March 25 in World Cup qualifiers. Both matches are taking place at the Amman International Stadium due to the situation in his homeland.

When Dabbagh returns to Aberdeen, for whom he wears the No. 11 shirt, there is much to play for.

At the end of Saturday’s match at McDiarmid Park, Dabbagh and the rest of the Aberdeen players walked to their supporters to applaud them before leaving the field.

Among the throng of red shirts and scarves, a Palestinian flag was proudly waved in the air.

Should the next stage of Dabbagh’s footballing journey include the goals that propel Aberdeen to European football and — even more enticing — silverware, there will be many more Palestinian flags hoisted in celebration.


Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title

Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title
Updated 7 sec ago
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Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title

Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title
  • Atlas Lions beat Mali 4-2 on penalties after goalless final
  • Goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch emerged the hero, saving two spot-kicks

BEIRUT: Morocco’s U-17 national football team made history on Saturday by winning their first Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title after edging past Mali 4-2 on penalty shootouts.
The final match saw little in the way of clear chances, with both sides struggling to break the deadlock throughout 90 minutes of a goalless draw.
In the second half, the Atlas Lions increased their tempo, obviously paving their way for a breakthrough, but could not hit the Malian net.
With no goals to separate the two, the match went to penalties, where Morocco held their nerve.


Goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch emerged the hero, saving two spot-kicks to secure a historic victory for his teammates, winning their first continental title at the U-17 level.
With this victory, Morocco has now conquered every single AFCON title, from U-17 to U-20, U-23 and the senior level.
On the way to the final game, tournament hosts Morocco faced off against Cote d’Ivoire in the semifinal and edged them out 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, runners-up Mali beat Burkina Faso 2-0 in the second semifinal.
The Atlas Lions had topped Group A with seven points ahead of Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania. Meanwhile, Mali came second in Group D, six points behind leaders Cote d’Ivoire, who led the group with seven points.


Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat

Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat
Updated 19 April 2025
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Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat

Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat
  • Chasing 204 for victory, Gujarat rode on Englishman’s 54-ball knock laced with 11 fours and four sixes to achieve their target

AHMEDABAD: England’s Jos Buttler struck an unbeaten 97 to power Gujarat Titans to the top of the IPL table with a seven-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad’s intense heat on Saturday.
Chasing 204 for victory, Gujarat rode on Buttler’s 54-ball knock laced with 11 fours and four sixes to achieve their target with four balls to spare at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler and impact substitute Sherfane Rutherford, a left-hand West Indies batter who hit 43, put on a key stand of 119 to steer Gujarat to their fifth win in seven matches and the top of the 10-team table.
Delhi slipped to second.
Rutherford fell in the 19th over. Delhi’s left-arm quick Mitchell Starc needed to defend 10 off the final six balls but the left-handed Rahul Tewatia finished off with a six and four.
Buttler, who hit his third half-century of the season, was left three short of a hundred that would have put him level with Virat Kohli’s record eight IPL tons.
Gujarat, who won the IPL in their debut season in 2022, elected to field first on a hot afternoon as the temperature soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Delhi reached 203-8 but the total could have been more had it not been for four wickets by Gujarat pace bowler Prasidh Krishna, who now leads this season’s bowling with 14 scalps.
Buttler was the hero as his batting charge stood out after his work behind the stumps for 20 overs in the heat as he gloved two catches.
Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill fell run out for seven in the second over after he attempted a tough single and a direct throw from Karun Nair rattled the stumps.
The left-right batting pair of Sai Sudharsan and Buttler put the innings back on track as they balanced caution and aggression in their stand of 60.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav took down Sudharsan for 36 but Buttler found another partner in Rutherford, who took on the bowling and hit three sixes.
Earlier Delhi skipper Axar Patel top-scored with 39.
KL Rahul made 28 before Krishna trapped him lbw with a yorker and then cut short Nair’s knock in the ninth over.
Veteran pace bowler Ishant Sharma bowled two overs but went off after he struggled to cope with the scorching heat.
Ishant came back to bowl another over but again went back to the dug out and was subbed out with figures of 1-19.
Tristan Stubbs was out for 31 before Krishna sent back Axar and Vipraj Nigam with successive balls but the hat-trick was avoided.
Ashutosh Sharma hit 37 to boost the total.


Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight

Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight
Updated 19 April 2025
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Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight

Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight
  • The table now shows Bayern at the top with 72 points, nine ahead of Bayer Leverkusen
  • Urbig was sharp and alert, diving low to deny Sirlord Conteh with a smart save

HEIDENHEIM, Germany: Bayern Munich had little trouble beating lowly Heidenheim 4-0 on Saturday to put themselves within touching distance of their 34th Bundesliga title.
The table now shows Bayern at the top with 72 points, nine ahead of Bayer Leverkusen who face St. Pauli on Sunday, with four rounds left to play.
With Bayern racing into a three-goal lead after just 36 minutes — courtesy of Harry Kane’s precision, Konrad Laimer’s drive and Kingsley Coman’s flair — there was little doubt about Saturday’s outcome.
Kane could have doubled his tally after 22 minutes, with the pressure on the Heidenheim goal reaching a boiling point, but the Bundesliga’s leading marksman steered a close-range header just wide, letting the hosts off the hook.
Joshua Kimmich then took his time before rifling a shot into the corner for 4-0 in the 56th minute as Bayern surged ahead at full throttle in their relentless pursuit of another league crown.
Heidenheim, fueled by pride and eager to salvage something from an otherwise dismal performance, came close to pulling back a goal just after the hour mark. But Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig was sharp and alert, diving low to deny Sirlord Conteh with a smart save.
For the hosts, the situation looks bleak: they are third from bottom in the relegation play-off places with 22 points, seven behind St. Pauli, who occupy the last safe spot.
Bayern will host Mainz next Saturday before facing RB Leipzig and Borussia Moenchengladbach, then wrapping up their campaign with a trip to Hoffenheim on May 17.


Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final

Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final
Updated 19 April 2025
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Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final

Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final
  • Hearts levelled in the 28th minute
  • Aberdeen swiftly took advantage to reach their first Scottish Cup final in eight years

GLASGOW: Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh scored a late extra-time winner as Aberdeen eventually ground down nine-man Hearts to win 2-1 on Saturday and reach the Scottish Cup final.
The Dons struck first against the run of play when Pape Gueye’s header came back off the crossbar and ricocheted into his own net off the back of 42-year-old Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.


Hearts levelled in the 28th minute when captain Lawrence Shankland met James Penrice’s cross from the left, took a touch and rifled a clinical finish through the legs of Dimitar Mitov.
The Edinburgh side suffered a huge blow a minute before the break when Michael Steinwender was shown a straight red after bringing down Topi Keskinen.
But the 10 men held out for well over an hour against an Aberdeen side lacking in invention.
Hearts’ task got even tougher when Cammy Devlin was shown a second yellow card with four minutes left of extra-time.
Aberdeen swiftly took advantage to reach their first Scottish Cup final in eight years when Dabbagh fired in the rebound after Jack Milne’s shot was saved by Gordon.
Jimmy Thelin’s side will face the winner of Sunday’s semifinal between Celtic and St. Johnstone at Hampden on May 25.


Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah

Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah
Updated 19 April 2025
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Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah

Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah
  • British driver manages race calmly, pulling clear to build advantage

JEDDAH: McLaren’s Ella Lloyd thrived under intense pressure from the more experienced Maya Weug to secure her first F1 Academy win on Saturday, taking victory in race one around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Starting from the front row, the British driver got the better of her Rodin Motorsport teammate Emma Felbermayr at turn one to storm into the lead.

From there, she managed the race calmly, pulling clear as battles raged behind her and building a solid advantage over her rivals.

Felbermayr slipped back, losing P2 to Red Bull Racing’s Alisha Palmowski before Weug worked her way into the top three.

Meanwhile, series leader Doriane Pin found herself locked in a fierce battle for P6 with Tina Hausmann.

But just as the fight was heating up, disaster struck for Williams driver Lia Block — starting from the back of the grid after a qualifying crash — who was tagged from behind by Courtney Crone.

The incident brought out the safety car and forced Chloe Chong into retirement after she sustained damage while trying to avoid the collision.

Lloyd handled the restart well, but as race one approached its conclusion, Weug — having passed Palmowski for P2 — began closing the gap rapidly.

The pair engaged in a thrilling drag race on the final lap, but Lloyd held firm, crossing the line just 0.176 seconds ahead of the Ferrari driver.

Palmowski similarly fended off Pin to secure the final podium spot, with Alba Larsen taking P5 ahead of Aston Martin’s Tina Hausmann. Chloe Chambers, who was to start race two from pole, finished seventh, leaving Nina Gademan to claim the final point in race one.