Top 3 Al-Seeb players to watch out for in East Bengal's AFC Champions League Two clash

Al-Seeb are yet to register a point in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two.

East Bengal FC, a club that has shown incredible clinicality this season under Antonio López Habas, are back on the Asian stage for two crucial fixtures that will determine their fate in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two.

They have scored 11 goals in their last three games across all competitions. However, matches are not won through attack alone. Their defensive lapses have meant that they have dropped five points from winning positions in the AFC Champions League Two. This is something they will look to address in the upcoming games.

Up next, they will face Al-Seeb twice in quick succession. The Omani club, champions of the 2025-26 Oman Professional League, secured direct qualification to the group stage of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two, bypassing the preliminary stage, which ended in heartbreak for them last season.

In fact, it was an Indian club that eliminated them in the preliminary stage, with FC Goa defeating them 2-1 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa.

Although they have secured direct qualification to the main competition this time around, it is fair to say that things have not gone exactly in their favor so far. They have lost both their opening games, going down 1-0 to Al Shorta SC before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Al Hussein SC.

Their recent form has also been a mixed bag. They have won three and lost two of their last five games. They are currently fourth in the 2026-27 Oman Professional League, potentially five points behind Al-Nasr if the latter win their game in hand.

With two defeats from two games, Al-Seeb are also at the bottom of Group D in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two.

With Al-Seeb preparing to give their best in pursuit of their first win of the campaign and to kick-start their Asian dream, East Bengal will pose a major challenge, especially considering that they have a far superior squad to the one FC Goa had when they defeated the Omani champions last season.

Here are three players Habas and his side must be wary of if they want to take all six points from their next two games against the Omani club.

Omar Al-Malki

Omar Al-Malki is an extremely versatile forward who usually prefers playing as a second striker or an attacking midfielder.

He is also capable of playing on the wings and as a central midfielder, the position in which he featured in Al-Seeb’s recent defeat to Al Hussein in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two. Al-Malki has registered two goal contributions in the league so far this season, demonstrating why he is a threat in the final third through his goals and line-breaking passes.

His off-the-ball movement to find spaces and tactical versatility to unsettle opponents and disrupt their structure will be crucial for Al-Seeb, especially against an East Bengal side that has shown a tendency to switch off during games.

Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbali

At 37, Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbali still remains a potent attacking threat, having already scored three goals in the four games he has featured in the Oman Professional League Cup. He has represented the Oman national team almost 100 times over a decade and scored 34 goals, the third-highest tally in the country’s history.

Muqbali is a proven goalscorer who began his career as a center-forward but has increasingly taken on a second-striker role in recent times. His physicality and aerial prowess are among his best traits, while his left foot has a separate fanbase in Oman. The forward is known for scoring excellent goals from tight angles and long range with his left foot.

He is also reliable from the penalty spot, converting more often than not, while posing a significant threat from set pieces because of his stature. He uses his experience and movement between the striker and second-striker roles to confuse opposition defenders and create space for his teammates. 

Axel Meye

Al-Seeb striker Axel Meye has started and played the full 90 minutes in both of the club’s games in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two so far. However, he has failed to replicate the goal scoring form he has displayed in domestic competitions on the Asian stage, scoring no goals in 180 minutes of action.

In the 2026-27 Oman Professional League, however, he has registered six goal contributions in five games. He has also scored three goals in the Oman Professional League Cup, coming in the form of a hattrick against Sohar SC.

Meye is a dynamic presence up front, with his pace and explosiveness making him a significant threat on quick transitions. He is never afraid to test the goalkeeper from distance. However, his strength lies in his movement into wider areas, where he combines with the wingers and creates chances and spaces for the player playing besides him. This is something East Bengal must be wary of.

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