By: Oma Akatugba
The first leg of the final of the biggest club football competition in Asia will hold this weekend when defending champion Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia play host to Urawa Red from Japan at the MRSOOL Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Hilal are the defending champion in the competition after they beat Pohang FC from South Korea 2-0 in last year’s final
The winner of this two-legged final will represent the Asia continent at the next FIFA Club World Cup. This competition is played annually among the best teams from each continent.
Al-Hilal are aiming to win the trophy for the third time in four years. One player who is pursuing winning the title for the first time is Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo, the former Manchester United forward swapped from rival Al Shabab to Al-Hilal in 2022.
The Nigerian International is the leading top scorer with five goals in this year’s competition and has declared his side are ready to fight till the end to defend this title they last won in 2021.
” I know that the match will be a tough game, but I promise to give my best, to fight till the end of the game. I hope to put smiles on the faces of the fans of Al-Hilal and my fans all over the world.
Odion Ighalo had played a key role for his club in this season’s competition and was the best player in the last round when he scored four times in the 7-0 hammering of Al-Duhail.
Al-Hilal will aim to hold an advantage going into the second leg in Japan next weekend.