FOOTBALL – Riffa overcame Al Ettifaq 2-0 last night while A’ali equalised late to forge a 1-1 stalemate against Manama as matchweek one came to a close in the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Brazilian professional Samuel Conceicao Toscas and Yacouba Diarra were both on target for Riffa on either side of the break in their impressive victory against Ettifaq at the National Stadium in Riffa.
A’ali, on the other hand, found the net through Brazilian Matheus Santos Nunes in second-half stoppage time to draw level after French import Zachary Marvin Hadji gave Manama the lead just several minutes prior at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz.
Both of yesterday’s games featured newly promoted sides into this season’s top flight.
Ettifaq were the champions of the 2025-26 Bahrain First Division, while Manama earned their return to the premiership after one year out by finishing second in the relegation/promotion play-offs.
League action continues later this week with the second matchweek of the new campaign, scheduled for Wednesday to Saturday.
In Riffa’s victory yesterday, Toscas gave them a dream start after opening their account in the fourth minute.
He scored with a well-placed header from just outside the six-yard box off a cross from the left supplied by teammate and compatriot Rodrigo Yuri Pires Franca.
Diarra then doubled their advantage in the 61st minute with another fine header.
This time, he connected on a free-kick from the right wing delivered by Bahrain national team star Ali Madan.
That was enough to seal the win for Riffa, who joined Al Khaldiya, Sitra, and Hidd in taking the full three points to kick off the new championship fight.
Meanwhile, in Manama’s draw with A’ali last night, Hadji put his team in front in the 83rd minute after guiding the ball home from the face of goal off a low cross from the right delivered by Cape Verde import Rivaldo Boaventura Morais.
The pass was not dealt with by the A’ali defence, and Hadji got enough of a touch to get the ball over the goal line.
Manama’s joy was short-lived, however, as A’ali equalised in the opening minute of second-half injury time when Nunes headed in off a right corner kick.
His effort rose above Manama’s Bosnia-Herzegovina custodian Salvisa Bogdanovic and into the top-left corner of goal.
The two sides thus came away with a share of the points following the thrilling finish to their clash.
In the upcoming second round of the 2026-27 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League, Al Najma take on Malkiya and Sitra face East Riffa on Wednesday.
On Friday, A’ali return to the pitch against Khaldiya, while two-time defending champions Muharraq go head-to-head with Ettifaq.
The two games on Saturday will then see Ahli take on Hidd and Riffa lock horns with Manama.
This year’s Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League is one of several competitions being organised by the BFA for 2026-27.
There are also the His Majesty the King’s Cup, the kingdom’s richest annual tournament, which kicks off on December 14; the Bahrain First Division, starting on September 13; the age-group leagues, kicking off on September 10; the Khalid Bin Hamad Cup, to be played from December 12; and the single-game Bahrain Super Cup, slated for December 29.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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