FOOTBALL – AL Najma and Manama both took one step closer last night towards securing their places in the 2026-27 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Each side emerged victorious in their opening fixtures of the relegation/promotion play-offs yesterday, with Najma defeating 10-man Al Ettihad 2-1 at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz and Manama edging past Budaiya – who were also down to 10 men – 1-0 at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Najma and Budaiya are playing in the mini, four-club competition looking to retain their places in next season’s top flight, while Manama and Ettihad are hoping to gain promotion from the Bahrain First Division.
French striker Zachary Marvin Hadji scored both of Najma’s goals in their come-from-behind triumph last night.
Mohammed Hassan Al Mohsen put Ettihad in front with a brilliant goal in the 51st minute after taking advantage of a gaffe by Najma goalkeeper Ammar Mohammed.
But their lead was short-lived as Hadji equalised just eight minutes later after guiding the ball home from the face of goal off a short cross from the left by Mohammed Abdulqayoom.
Najma then secured their win three minutes from the end of regulation when Hadji hit a turning shot from near the penalty spot, again off an assist by Abdulqayoom.
Shortly prior to Hadji’s clincher, Ettihad’s Nigerian professional Fortune Caleb Gbobie was given his marching orders in the 77th minute following a second bookable offense.
Meanwhile, in Manama’s victory, Bosnia-Herzegovina professional Nemanja Nikolic scored the match winner in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
He slotted home from inside the penalty box after Budaiya failed to deal with a cross from the right, sent in by Nikolic’s teammate Mustafa Mohammed Salem.
That was enough to separate the two sides, with Manama holding a man advantage for much of the game after Budaiya’s Nigerian import Clement Ogbobe was shown a direct red card in the 15th minute.
All four teams are back in action on Monday next week in the second matchday of the play-offs.
Najma will be looking to virtually secure their premiership return when they face Budaiya at the National Stadium, while Manama will be aiming to confirm their climb when they face Ettihad at Ahli. The final matchday will be on May 30, when Najma and Manama clash at the National Stadium and Budaiya take on Ettihad at Ahli.
All four fixtures are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs each evening.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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