Top 3 Al-Arabi SC players to watch out for against East Bengal FC
Al-Arabi SC are the runners-up of the 2025/26 Kuwaiti Premier League.
East Bengal FC, the champions of the 2025/26 Indian Super League and the champions of the top-tier league after almost 22 years of waiting, are back on the Asian stage on merit following their maiden ISL triumph. The Red and Gold Brigade last featured in the Asian stage in the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League, where they were eliminated by Turkmenistan giants FK Arkadag in the quarterfinals.
This time around, they have the opportunity to go one step further and compete in the second tier of the AFC Champions League. All they need to do is win their AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage clash against Al-Arabi SC at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on August 12.
The squad that won East Bengal the trophy in the 2025/26 ISL season is completely different from the squad heading into this crucial qualifier. Head coach Oscar Bruzon, alongside his entire technical staff, and four of the six foreigners who represented the Red and Gold Brigade have left the club. Antonio Lopez Habas has taken charge, with nine new domestic signings and five new foreigners, of whom only three are expected to be available for the clash.
Their opponents, Al-Arabi SC, are one of the best teams in the Kuwaiti Premier League, where they finished as runners-up in the 2025/26 edition. They were crowned champions of the recently concluded 2025/26 Kuwait Crown Prince Cup, comfortably defeating Al-Kuwait SC 3-0 in the final. To intensify their preparations ahead of the qualifiers, they have also played a few friendlies to get their momentum and fitness up and running.
The last time they featured on the Asian stage, they had a disappointing campaign, failing to make it past the group stages of the 2025/26 AFC Challenge League.
They are a relatively easier opponent compared to FC Goa’s opponents, FK Arkadag, who are heads and miles above the Indian clubs. If East Bengal can get their act together and follow the basics and tactics of Antonio Lopez Habas, they have a really good chance of making it to the 2026/27 AFC Champions League-2.
While the excitement and enthusiasm ahead of the match is extremely high, not just among East Bengal fans but also across the Indian football community, who want the clubs representing the country on the Asian stage to perform better, here are three Al-Arabi SC players that East Bengal must be wary of and show extra tactical awareness to keep quiet.
Sulaiman Abdulghafoor
Sulaiman Abdulghafoor, the captain of Al-Arabi SC, is not just an experienced veteran in goal; he is a legend of the club who has been with them since 2010. He is one of those rare one-club players who has been with the club since 2003, initially joining the youth team before being promoted to the senior side. He has now spent 23 years with the club and, with the option to stay until 2028, could make his total time at Al-Arabi SC 25 years.
Abdulghafoor is a highly experienced goalkeeper who is known for the way he commands his box in set-piece situations, using his leadership abilities to organize the defense. He is also known for his record in penalty shoot-outs and is comfortable playing the ball with both feet, something that is crucial in the modern game when playing out from the back.
Anayo Iwuala
Anayo Iwuala, the Nigerian winger of Al-Arabi SC, is a very exciting player who is one of the team’s most creative outlets and a cheat code when it comes to breaking down teams that play in a low block. He possesses blistering pace and has excellent abilities in 1v1 situations, where he can glide past defenders with ease while making the most of his low centre of gravity.
Iwuala was on song the last time Al-Arabi SC featured on the Asian stage, scoring in three of the four games he featured in, including the preliminary stage. And if the numbers available on the internet are to be believed, he finished the 2025/26 Kuwaiti Premier League season with five goals and seven assists to his name, with three of those goals coming in the championship round.
Zaid Qunbar
Although the club have signed Brazilian striker Lucas Shallon ahead of the upcoming season, Zaid Qunbar continues to remain one of the key members of the Al-Arabi SC attacking line. In the four recent friendlies that the club played ahead of the East Bengal clash, Qunbar has scored three times, including a brace against Turkish club Amedspor.
He finished the 2025/26 Kuwaiti Premier League season on a high, registering 11 goal contributions (six goals and five assists), while recording 10 goals and eight assists across all competitions.
Qunbar is just 23 years old and is a proper traditional number nine inside the box. A physical striker with aerial prowess, Qunbar excels inside the box with his brilliant aerial ability and the intelligent runs he makes to move away from defenders and get into good goalscoring positions. He also possesses an extremely high defensive work rate, pressing like a wolf and trying to win the ball back from the opposition.
Playing for the Palestine National Team, Zaid Qunbar has played alongside East Bengal captain Mohammad Rashid for the Palestine NT in the past.
Which country is Al-Arabi SC from?
Al-Arabi SC is from Kuwait and plays their domestic football in Kuwaiti Premier League.
Where did Al-Arabi SC finish in the 2025/26 Kuwaiti Premier League?
Al-Arabi SC finished as the runners-up of the 2025/26 Kuwaiti Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Al-Kuwait SC.
When is the clash between East Bengal FC and Al-Arabi SC scheduled to take place?
East Bengal FC will face Al-Arabi SC on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in the AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage.
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Shyam Sundar is an Indian football fan turned writer who has been covering the sport since 2023, after following it closely since 2020. He has reported on the ISL, I-League, IWL, and Indian national team matches. A passionate football enthusiast, he holds a special place in his heart for Chennaiyin FC and Manchester United.