AFC Challenge League: Al Kuwait and North African stars advance past Markneh’s Al Shabab

Former Espérance Tunis striker Taha Khenissi scored as Al Kuwait advanced to the AFC Challenge League semifinals with a 5-3 victory over Oman’s Al Shabab on Sunday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Despite two goals from Ethiopia national team star Kenean Markneh, the Al Shabab defense was overwhelmed beginning with Ugandan defender Halid Lwaliwa’s own goal towards the end of the first half.

Five minutes after Lwaliwa turned the ball into his own goal, Khenissi struck with an opportunistic finish in the 39th minute to make it 2-0 in favor of the reigning Kuwaiti Premier League champions.

It only got worse for Al Shabab, who were down by a 0-4 score shortly after the hour mark. Egyptian forward Amr Ahmed Abdelfattah curled in an excellent finish in the 48th minute before the former Al Masry and El Gouna attacker set up Bahraini midfielder Mohamed Marhoon for a perfectly placed effort from distance in the 63rd minute.

But the Omani club made an incredible comeback effort spearheaded by Ethiopian forward Markneh. Three minutes after Mohamed Al Ghafri pulled a goal back, Markneh fired in a shot off the post to make it 2-4 in the 75th minute.

After some high pressing won the ball deep in Al Kuwait territory, Markneh was perfectly positioned to finish into the top corner and the deficit was down to one goal in the 88th minute. However, the Kuwaiti club finished off the victory in the 90th minute when Ivorian midfielder Idrissa Doumbia assisted Faisal Al Harbi for the goal that would clinch a semifinal appearance.

فرحة وطن 🇰🇼🤩
.
#نادي_الكويت
#kuwaitclub pic.twitter.com/IQmXRLLIkz

— نادي الكويت الرياضي (@kuwaitclub) April 19, 2026

Al Kuwait are now one victory away from an appearance in the final, where Kwame Peprah and Cambodian club Svay Rieng await. They will likely face Kyrgyz host club Muras United in the final of the West region, with Muras currently ahead of Lebanese club Al Ansar 2-0 at halftime in the other West semifinal at the time of publication.

The West region final will take place on Wednesday before the winner will face Svay Rieng on May 9 to determine the champion.