Know FC Goa AFC Champions League Two Rival: Al Zawraa SC

FC Goa will make their return to the Asian stage after four years.

FC Goa will open the AFC Champions League 2 campaign on September 17, with the home fixture against Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC. This will be the first time in four years that the Gaurs will be representing India on the continental stage. Their last appearance was in 2021 when they first played the AFC Champions League.

FC Goa have been placed in Group D alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, Al Zawraa, and Istiklol from Tajikistan. In this article, we will look at Al Zawraa, the first opposition that FC Goa will play against in the group stage.

🧡 Together we rise, together we conquer. Força Goa 💫Buy tickets to both our first and last home games of the ACL 2 group stages and get early access to al Nassr game 🖇: https://t.co/7AYdXglDJV pic.twitter.com/HVTKIjdgjX

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) September 12, 2025

Also Read: FC Goa to host Ronaldo’s Al Nassr on October 22; check complete ACL 2 fixtures

About the team

Al Zawraa SC are the most successful club in Iraq. They have been the ever-dominant force in the Iraq Stars League. The club was founded fifty-six years ago in 1969. Winning the league for a record 14 times, they have established their credentials as the best team in Iraq.

Apart from the league, they have also won the Iraq FA Cup 16 times and the Iraqi Super Cup 5 times. No clubs in Iraq have such an incredible record to boast. Al Zawraa have also consistently featured in continental club competitions. The former Iraqi champions have played more than fifty matches cumulatively in the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League 2.

Recent Performances

Al Zawraa finished second in the Iraq Stars League last season. However, there was a huge gap of ten points between them and the champions, Al Shorta. They have consistently been in the top positions in the league in the last few years, but they have not been able to cross the final hurdle.

Their last major trophy came in 2021 when they won the Iraqi Super Cup. Since then, there has been a drought that they would be desperate to end this season. The league has not started yet in Iraq, and this would be their first major assignment this season.

The Coach

Al Zawraa are managed by Abdul Ghani Shahad. The experienced coach has managed several clubs in his vast managerial career that began in 1999 with Al Najaf, another Iraqi club. He stayed at Al Najaf for more than a decade across four stints, with the latest ending earlier this year.

Abdul Ghani Shahad has also managed Iraq at various levels. Starting with the Iraqi U20 team, he went on to manage the Iraqi senior men’s national team. However, the stint with the Iraq senior national team has mostly been in the capacity of an interim coach.

Players to watch

Hasan AbdulKareem

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by نادي الزوراء Al Zawraa SC (@alzawraasc)

Al Zawraa would be relying heavily on this name for their attacking threat. Hasan Abdulkareem was one of the standout performers for the club last season. With 9 goals and 11 assists in 35 games, he was a force to be reckoned with.

He was one of the key factors in guiding Al Zawraa to a second-place finish in the Iraq Stars League after a few seasons. FC Goa should be wary of Abdulkareem’s threat as he has the ability to put Manolo Marquez’s plans in jeopardy.

Akam Hashem

The 27-year-old Iraqi centre-back has just joined Al Zawraa after winning the Iraq Stars League last season with Al Shorta. Akam Hashem was an instrumental part of the title-winning Al Shorta squad. He played more than 33 matches in the league last season.

Akam Hashem also featured in the AFC Champions League Elite last season. He appeared in three matches, making a significant contribution.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.