By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigerian forward Saviour Godwin scored the only goal of the match as Al Akhdoud edged Al-Raed 1–0 in a tense Saudi Pro League fixture on Matchday 33.
Godwin found the breakthrough in the 56th minute, converting a well-placed assist from Knowledge Musona to give Al Akhdoud a vital lead.
The goal proved decisive in a tightly contested game that saw both sides struggle to find clear opportunities in the first half.
Al Akhdoud’s disciplined defensive performance withstood sustained pressure from Al-Raed in the closing stages, preserving the narrow lead and earning three critical points as the season approaches its conclusion.
Godwin was substituted in stoppage time for Hussain Hassan Mushaib Al Zabdani, having made the decisive contribution.
The win strengthens Al Akhdoud’s position in the league standings, boosting their hopes of avoiding relegation or pushing for a mid-table finish, depending on final matchday results.
The result leaves Al-Raed facing an uphill task in their own bid for late-season momentum as they failed to capitalize on late chances.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
