Kodjo Laba and Rahimi score as Al Ain push forward in UAE Pro League title race

Al Ain are engaged in a fierce battle for top spot in the UAE Pro League and pushed their noses in front again on Tuesday after star forwards Kodjo Laba and Soufiane Rahimi scored in a 3-1 victory at Ittihad Kalba.

العين يتقدم
لابا يكسر صمت المباراة ويسجل هدفاً رائعاً بركلة مزدوجة ببداية الشوط الثاني ⚽️#كلباء_العين#دوري_أدنوك_للمحترفين pic.twitter.com/exiMSEg3Q5

— ADSportsTV (@ADSportsTV) January 27, 2026

Laba, the Togolese goal scorer who has a legendary reputation at the Emirati club, made it four goals in his last three matches on Tuesday. After going into halftime even at 0-0, it took seventy seconds for the former RS Berkane talisman to open the scoring with an overhead kick from close range.

The 34-year-old now has 16 goals in 14 UAE Pro League matches this season, also adding 5 goals in 6 matches from the UAE President’s Cup and the UAE League Cup to bring his total to 21 goals in 20 matches across all competitions.

And Morocco national team forward Rahimi doubled the lead after hour mark for a successful return from 2025 Africa Cup of Nations duty with the Atlas Lions. Receiving a pass from Malian midfielder Abdoul Karim Traoré, the former Raja Casablanca star left Ittihad Kalba defender Miha Blazic in the dust before finishing.

رحيمي يعود
الهدف الثاني للعين يسجله سفيان رحيمي ببراعة بعد تمريرة متقنة من تراوري ⚽️#كلباء_العين#دوري_أدنوك_للمحترفين pic.twitter.com/KPyfZ7ThRk

— ADSportsTV (@ADSportsTV) January 27, 2026

The Moroccan has been limited to only eight matches in all competitions for his club, with five goals between league and cup duties. After starting the opening match for Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations, a 1-0 victory over Comoros, Rahimi was limited to two brief substitute appearances for the remainder of the tournament as the Atlas Lions fell to champions Senegal in the final.

An Iranian connection brought hosts Ittihad back to within a goal in the 70th minute when Saman Ghoddos set up Ahmad Nourollahi, but Matías Palacios put the result beyond doubt late on for the 14-time Pro League champions.

Al Ain remain undefeated in the league this season with ten victories and four draws. They are two points clear of Al Ahli Dubai, who can return back to the top of the table with a victory when they travel to face Ajman Club on Wednesday. Al Ain will return to action on Saturday when they face Dibba Al Fujairah in the quarterfinals of the President’s Cup.