Super Eagles forward Anayo Iwuala has kicked off the new year in fine style, finding the back of the net to inspire Al-Arabi to a hard-fought victory over Yarmouk in their Kuwaiti Crown Prince Cup Round of 16 single-leg clash on Wednesday evening.

The 26-year-old attacker opened the scoring at the Sabah Al Salem Stadium, setting the tone as Al-Arabi battled their way to a deserved 2–1 win, Footballrover reports.

Anayo Iwuala’s Goal Powers Al-Arabi Past Yarmouk

Iwuala’s strike marked his second goal in three appearances for the club, following his match-winning effort in the 2–1 victory over Al-Tadamon on December 28, 2025.

Al-Arabi booked their place in the next round of the Crown Prince Cup with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Yarmouk, but the scoreline only tells part of the story of an engaging and at times tense encounter.

The first half was largely a battle for control. Al-Arabi enjoyed more possession and looked the more composed side in midfield, yet Yarmouk defended compactly and limited clear chances.

The opening 45 minutes ended goalless, with both teams heading into the break knowing the match was finely balanced.

The game came to life almost immediately after halftime. Just three minutes into the second half, Anayo Iwuala broke the deadlock for Al-Arabi.

The Nigerian winger timed his run perfectly before finishing confidently, following a well-weighted assist from fellow Nigerian Christopher John, whose vision and composure unlocked the Yarmouk defence.

The goal injected pace and urgency into Al-Arabi’s play. Momentum stayed with the defending champions, and it paid off again six minutes later.

Al-Arabi were awarded a penalty after sustained pressure inside the box, and Zaid Qunbar stepped up to convert from the spot in the 54th minute, doubling his side’s advantage and putting them firmly in control.

To their credit, Yarmouk refused to fade. They pushed higher up the pitch, took more risks, and were eventually rewarded in the 76th minute when they won a penalty of their own.

The spot kick was calmly dispatched, cutting the deficit to one goal and setting up a nervous final stretch.

The closing minutes saw Yarmouk press for an equaliser, while Al-Arabi focused on game management and defensive discipline.

Despite a few anxious moments, Al-Arabi held firm to see out the match and secure a 2–1 win.

Arokodare’s Premier League Battle with Wolves

Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Tolu Arokodare played the full 90 minutes for Wolves as they secured another point with a 1–1 draw away at Everton.

The 25-year-old forward, however, registered the fewest touches (35) of any outfield player to play the entire match.

Okoye Stands Out in Udinese Win

Over in Italy, Maduka Okoye was in commanding form in goal for Udinese, helping them to an important 2–1 away victory over Torino in Serie A.

The goalkeeper, who missed out on a spot at AFCON 2025, made over three saves and cleared two crucial balls during his 90 minutes on the pitch.

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Last Updated on January 8, 2026 9:57 am by footballrover