Saudi Arabia back on track for World Cup after victory over 10-man China

AUSTRALIA: While Al-Nassr’s men’s team have found success hard to come by in recent seasons, their women’s team have had no such issues, last week clinching their third straight Saudi Women’s Premier League title.

With the league itself, the first professional league of its type in the Kingdom, only three years old, it means Al-Nassr remain the only side to win the competition since its formation back in 2022.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” star midfielder Lina Boussaha told Arab News after a 3-1 win over their nearest title rivals, Al-Ahli, secured their third straight title.

“Winning one title is special, but winning three in a row is a testament to the consistency and belief within the team. This season was challenging in its own way, but we stayed focused, and lifting the trophy again is a moment of immense pride for all of us.”

They haven’t just won the league either, they’ve dominated it. In the almost three full seasons since the league began, Al-Nassr have played 44 games. Remarkably, they’ve won 39 of them and lost just two.

And this season they are on track for the perfect “golden” season. Sixteen games into the season they are not only yet to taste defeat, they are yet to drop a single point — 16 games played, 16 games won.

With the league title already in their pocket and just two games remaining — including one against Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal — the perfect season is within touching distance.

“The motivation is high, we always want to push our limits and set new standards,” Boussaha openly admitted.

“Winning every game is not easy, but we’ve come this far, and we want to finish strong. It’s not just about results, but about maintaining our identity and showing what this team is capable of. Writing the history.

“Getting a golden league doesn’t happen often, we want that.”

Given their success to date, and not just this season, but across the entirety of the league’s existence, it’d be folly to back against them.

What sets Al-Nassr apart, according to Boussaha, is their never-say-die attitude.

“Each season has its own story, but this one was unique because of the challenges we faced,” the Algerian international explained.

“In the first five or six games, we had to come from behind multiple times, including an incredible remontada.”

That came in Round 5 in a Riyadh Derby against Al Shabab, who had shot to a 3-0 lead by the hour mark, and had Al-Nassr staring defeat straight in the eyes.

But a remarkable turnaround, spearheaded by Boussaha, who scored two goals in as many minutes to reduce the deficit, saw Al-Nassr score four goals in the final 25 minutes of the game to run out 4-3 victors.

There were other moments, too. They trailed Al-Amal 1-0 before goals in the 88th and 91st minutes secured a 2-1 win in Round 3. Against Al-Qadsiah a week earlier, they also came from a goal down, albeit in less dramatic fashion, to win 2-1.

While in Round 6, just a week after their win over Al-Shabab, Boussaha inspired another comeback, this time against Al-Ittihad as they came from a goal down to win 3-1.

“Those moments built our strength as a team, reinforced our confidence, and showed everyone our resilience,” the 26-year-old said.

“It proved that beating us isn’t easy, even when we’re under pressure or dominated. Overcoming those situations helped us for the rest of the season and gave us the mentality to push through the second half even stronger.”

She continued: “After three seasons working together, we’ve become like a family, sisters, and we fight for each other on and off the pitch. Collectively, we know our potential, and we don’t want to miss out on any opportunity or game.

“As champions, we have high goals and standards, which means we always have to show up and give double or even triple the effort.

“Personally, when we’re losing, I know that giving up is not an option. I have to finish the game exhausted, knowing I gave everything like it was my last match, whether we’re losing, drawing, or winning. That mindset drives me and the team to push beyond our limits.”

Boussaha, a French-born Algerian international, has been one of the headline names in the league since its inception. That she is in the league at all is only down to circumstance after France banned players from wearing the hijab in sporting competitions.

Not willing to forego her identity, Boussaha, a graduate of the PSG academy and a former PSG player, begrudgingly walked away from the professional game in France.

An opportunity to play in a new league in Saudi Arabia, where she could remain true to her identity, was an offer she couldn’t walk away from.

“Honestly, I didn’t have any expectations before coming here,” she said.

“I had very little information about the league, the level, or the players. I tried to gather details, but since the league had just been created, it wasn’t easy.

“My decision to come was first and foremost because of my hijab, I missed playing football, and I knew that in France, it wouldn’t be possible anymore while wearing it.”

Three years on she has zero regrets, having seen the fledgling league boom in that time.

“Since I first arrived, there’s been a huge gap between then and now,” she explained.

“The league wasn’t well-known, we didn’t have superstar players, and the games weren’t even broadcast. There was very little information available on social media, and it was still in its early stages.

“Then, suddenly, everything boomed. The league became more competitive and attractive, with top players and big names joining. The social media presence and marketing are now even better than in some famous leagues. The Saudi players and national teams have progressed technically and mentally.

“The investment in facilities, field, sponsorships and infrastructures in some clubs, has taken things to another level and honestly, it’s really enjoyable to play in this league now.”