Asisat Oshoala delivered a standout performance with a brilliant brace as Al Hilal battled to a thrilling 3–3 draw against rivals Al Ahli in an entertaining Saudi Women’s Premier League encounter.
The Nigerian superstar was at her clinical best, scoring twice—including a composed penalty—to keep Al Hilal firmly in the contest, while Moroccan playmaker Ghizlane Chebbak also found the net in a pulsating six-goal affair.
Al Hilal struck first through Chebbak in the 29th minute before Oshoala quickly doubled the advantage two minutes later, showing her predatory instincts inside the box. Al Ahli responded when an own goal by Nawal Al-Gelaish in the 36th minute brought them back into the match, and they completed the comeback just before halftime through Naomie Kabakaba, who struck in stoppage time (45+4’).
Oshoala restored Al Hilal’s lead shortly before the break, calmly converting from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute to take her tally for the night to two goals.
The second half saw Al Ahli push hard for an equaliser, and their persistence paid off in the 65th minute when Fadwa Khalid scored to make it 3–3, ensuring the points were shared.
Naomie Kabakaba’s earlier goal proved crucial for Al Ahli, while Oshoala’s brace once again underlined her importance to Al Hilal and her continued impact in Saudi Arabia.
The result leaves both sides reflecting on a high-quality contest that showcased the growing competitiveness and attacking flair of the Saudi Women’s Premier League.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
