Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga played a decisive role as Al Arabi Sports Club edged past Al Wakrah with a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the 12th round of the Qatar Stars League on Wednesday night at the Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium.
The Kenyan striker, who also captained his club on the night, provided the assist for the only goal of the match as Al Arabi began the 2026 football calendar year on a winning note.
ALSO READ: ‘Not in my mind’ – Michael Olunga calm in chase of Harambee Stars’ all-time top scorer
The contest started cautiously, with both sides showing respect for each other and focusing on maintaining shape rather than committing numbers forward.
Al Wakrah enjoyed early possession spells but struggled to turn that dominance into clear-cut chances, while Al Arabi looked dangerous whenever they broke forward through quick transitions.
Michael Olunga skippers Al Arabi to first win of 2026
The defining moment of the match arrived in the 39th minute, and it was Olunga who made the difference.
Receiving the ball just outside the penalty area, the Harambee Stars skipper showed his class and composure, dribbling past two Al Wakrah defenders before releasing an incisive pass into the box.
Rodrigo Sanchez timed his run perfectly and calmly finished to give Al Arabi a crucial first-half lead.
That goal shifted the momentum of the game, forcing Al Wakrah to push higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser.
Earlier in the match, Al Wakrah had thought they were awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review, much to their frustration.
The setback seemed to fuel their urgency in the second half as they increased pressure on the Al Arabi defence.
Despite sustained attacks after the break, Al Wakrah found it difficult to break down a disciplined Al Arabi backline.
Goalkeeper Jasem Al Hail emerged as a key figure for the home side, producing a superb save to deny Ayoub Assal in a one-on-one situation that could have changed the outcome of the match.
Al Arabi, however, remained a constant threat on the counterattack, with Olunga continuing to lead by example through his hold-up play, movement, and leadership.
Both teams created chances in a more open second half, but wasteful finishing and solid defending ensured the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.
The victory lifted Al Arabi to 20 points, placing them fifth on the Qatar Stars League table, level on points with fourth-placed Al Sadd but behind on goal difference, pending the completion of the round.
For Al Wakrah, the defeat left them seventh on 16 points, as they were made to rue missed opportunities.