DOHA: Karim Benzema scored twice but Al-Ittihad lost 4-2 to Al-Duhail of Qatar in the Asian Champions League Elite on Monday.
It was the Saudi Arabian champion’s third loss in five games in the continental competition. The top eight from the 12-team western zone group stage — the first round of the tournament is split into geographic halves — advance to the knockout phase.
Algerian forward Adil Boulbina put Al-Duhail in control with a hat trick — scoring twice in the first half and adding a third seven minutes after the restart.
Polish forward Krzysztof Piatek made it 4-0 with 16 minutes remaining, before Benzema struck twice for the two-time champion.
Ittihad’s Jeddah rival Al-Ahli lost 1-0 at home to Al-Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates.
Ousmane Camara put Sharjah ahead with just nine minutes remaining. Al-Ahli, the defending champion, thought it had rescued a point in the 90th minute, but Ziyad Al-Johani’s would-be goal was ruled out for offside.
Benzema scores twice but Al-Ittihad loses 4-2 to Al-Duhail in Asian Champions League
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Benzema scores twice but Al-Ittihad loses 4-2 to Al-Duhail in Asian Champions League
- Ittihad’s Jeddah rival Al-Ahli lost 1-0 at home to Al-Sharjah of the United Arab Emirate
- Tractor of Iran continued its solid campaign with a 1-0 win at Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi to move into second behind Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal
2026 PFL MENA season to kick off in Saudi Arabia
- Eastern Province’s Ahmed Albrahim set to make highly anticipated professional debut in Alkhobar
- Bahraini MMA star Hamza Kooheji enters 2026 featherweight tournament for his PFL MENA bow
ALKHOBAR: The Professional Fighters League today announced that the 2026 PFL MENA tournament will kick off on May 8 at Dhahran Expo, Alkhobar, showcasing the best mixed martial arts talent from across the Middle East and North Africa.
The third season of the tournament will feature the best fighters in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions, alongside a slate of high-profile showcase bouts.
Headlining the opening card will be Salah Eddine Hamli, the reigning 2025 PFL MENA lightweight champion. Hamli’s championship pedigree and growing fanbase make him a centerpiece of PFL MENA’s continued growth.
Ahmed Albrahim will make his long-awaited professional debut in a featured welterweight bout. A native of the Eastern Province, Al-Ibrahim will turn pro at home — a key reason the PFL selected the region to host the season three opener.
His debut represents a milestone moment for local MMA and underscores PFL MENA’s mission to create pathways for homegrown talent to shine on a global stage.
Bahrain’s MMA legend Hamza Kooheji will compete in the featherweight tournament and make his promotional debut on the card. He is one of Bahrain’s most accomplished and recognized fighters.
“We are committed to building PFL MENA where the passion for MMA is strongest,” said Jerome Mazet, general manager of PFL MENA.
“Between Salah’s return, Ahmed making his professional debut in front of his home crowd, and the opportunity to welcome Bahraini fans supporting Hamza Kooheji, this event represents everything PFL MENA stands for: regional pride, elite competition, and unforgettable moments.”
Tickets are on sale from the evening of Feb. 12 and additional fights and event details will be announced in the coming weeks.
