• Sharjah players and staff celebrate winning the 2022 President’s Cup after defeating Al Wahda 1-0 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah players and staff celebrate winning the 2022 President’s Cup after defeating Al Wahda 1-0 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah players celebrate after Paco Alcacer scores the first and only goal of the President’s Cup fina. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah players celebrate after Paco Alcacer scores the first and only goal of the President’s Cup fina. Victor Besa / The National
  • Paco Alcacer celebrates after scoring a goal in the President's Cup final. EPA
    Paco Alcacer celebrates after scoring a goal in the President's Cup final. EPA
  • Sharjah players celebrate after Paco Alcacer scores the first and only goal of the President’s Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah players celebrate after Paco Alcacer scores the first and only goal of the President’s Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
  • Paco Alcacer on the ball during the President’s Cup final at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Victor Besa / The National
    Paco Alcacer on the ball during the President’s Cup final at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Victor Besa / The National
  • Caio Lucas of Sharhah in action during the President's Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
    Caio Lucas of Sharhah in action during the President's Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah players celebrate after defeating Al Wahda in the President’s Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah players celebrate after defeating Al Wahda in the President’s Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah players and staff celebrate winning the President’s Cup. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah players and staff celebrate winning the President’s Cup. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah players celebrate with the trophy after winning the President’s Cup. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah players celebrate with the trophy after winning the President’s Cup. Victor Besa / The National
  • Caio Lucas with his son after Sharhah beat Al Wahda in the President's Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
    Caio Lucas with his son after Sharhah beat Al Wahda in the President's Cup final. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah players celebrate with the trophy after winning the President’s Cup. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah players celebrate with the trophy after winning the President’s Cup. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan gives a trophy to Sharjah manager Cosmin Olaroiu. Victor Besa / The National
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan gives a trophy to Sharjah manager Cosmin Olaroiu. Victor Besa / The National
  • Caio Lucas attempts to keep the ball under pressure from three Al Wahda players. Victor Besa / The National
    Caio Lucas attempts to keep the ball under pressure from three Al Wahda players. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah players celebrate after Paco Alcacer's a goal in the President's Cup final. EPA
    Sharjah players celebrate after Paco Alcacer's a goal in the President's Cup final. EPA
  • Ousmane Camara of Sharjah in action against Tahnoon Alzaabi of Al Wahda. EPA
    Ousmane Camara of Sharjah in action against Tahnoon Alzaabi of Al Wahda. EPA
  • Sharjah celebrate with the trophy after winning the President's Cup final. EPA
    Sharjah celebrate with the trophy after winning the President's Cup final. EPA
  • Sharjah celebrate with the trophy after winning the President's Cup final. EPA
    Sharjah celebrate with the trophy after winning the President's Cup final. EPA
  • Al Wahda FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Wahda FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals match at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals match at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sharjah FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals match at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
    Sharjah FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals match at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
  • Al Wahda FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Wahda FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
  • Al Wahda FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Wahda FC fans cheer during the President’s Cup finals at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. Victor Besa / The National

'Dream come true' for Sharjah as Alcacer stunner seals long-awaited President's Cup


Amith Passela
  • English
  • Arabic

Sharjah captain Shaheen Abdulrahman described winning the President's Cup as a "dream come true" after Paco Alcacer's second-half stunner sealed victory in the final against Al Wahda on Friday.

Aiming to win the cup for a ninth time after a 19-year wait, Sharjah claimed a 1-0 win at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium thanks to Alcacer's dipping free-kick in the 52nd minute.

The final was rescheduled from its usual April-May slot following the death of President Sheikh Khalifa, and it was a summer arrival who proved the difference for Sharjah.

A 35-yard screamer from Alcacer, who joined the club from Villarreal, found the top corner early in the second half and Sharjah preserved their lead with a solid defence in front of more than 20,000 fans.

“We celebrated winning the league title in 2019 after 23 years and tonight to win the most prestigious cup after 19 years was a dream come true for me and for Sharjah,” Sharjah captain Abdulrahman said.

“The match was strong, tactical and exciting but only one team can win and we are over the moon that was us on the night. Our focus on the pitch was 100 per cent from start to finish and we carried out our manager’s plans to the dot.”

Manager Cosmin Olaroiu, who led Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli (Al Ahli at that time) to President’s Cup finals during his time in charge at those clubs, secured the only domestic trophy missing from his cabinet, and the Romanian dedicated the triumph to the Sharjah supporters.

“The fans have been our biggest inspiration and as always they stood behind us and this is a night for them to celebrate,” said Olaroiu, who took charge of Sharjah last season. “The players carried out the game plan to perfection tonight. I’m so proud of them.”

For Wahda manager Manuel Jimenez, it was his first defeat in four games since he returned to the Abu Dhabi Club for a second stint three weeks ago.

Wahda pushed for an equaliser, with Sebastian Tagliabue and Fares Jumaa coming close.

Tagliabue’s lobbed effort from inside the area was cleared by a Sharjah defender, while Jumaa’s sliding effort from a corner slid just wide of the far post.

In the end, it was Alcacer's goal that proved the difference, and the former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund striker said he was delighted to play a key part in the win.

“That goal was for the team and for me, a goal that I’ll cherish for a long, long time,” the Spaniard said.

“I saw the Wahda goalkeeper shuffling around and took aim at the near side of the net that I saw as a potential area he cannot reach. My aim was perfect on the night. It’s hard to say that I will hit the target but it worked very well. So happy I could do that and win the game for my team.”

Sharjah goalkeeper Darwish Mohammed said it was a “great honour” to be a member of the team that won a title bearing the name of Ruler of the UAE.

“It indeed is a great honour for me, my teammates, technical staff, the entire management of the club and above all the people of Sharjah,” he said.

“I actually dreamed of being champion of the President’s Cup. Coming into the game, we motivated each other while preparing for this game. Our coach is a master technician and his ploy worked for us tonight.”

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Uefa Nations League

League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands

League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey

League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania

League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

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Bahrain%20GP
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Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
  • Ban fruit juice and sodas
  • Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
  • Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
  • Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
  • Don’t eat dessert every day 
  • Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
  • Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
  • Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
  • Eat everything in moderation
Overview

Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu

Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

West Indies v India - Third ODI

India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
West Indies 158 (38.1 overs)
Mohammed (40), Powell (30), Hope (24)
Ashwin (3-28), Yadav (3-41), Pandya (2-32)

India won by 93 runs

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Updated: October 22, 2022, 5:37 AM