Bounedjah makes blazing start for Shamal

The opening two rounds of the Qatar Stars League – Ooredoo Stars League 2024-25 season – have seen some of the top Arab professional players stealing spotlight alongside many European and Qatari stars.
Among the standout performers so far has been the Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah for Al Shamal. Bounedjah, who moved from Al Sadd to Al Shamal has scored four goals in two matches and is on top of the scorers’ list.
He struck a brace against his previous club and defending champions Al Sadd in the opening round, and then scored another two more against Umm Salal in the following match.
The six feet plus tall Bounedjah has been one of the most prominent professional players in the Qatar Stars League in recent years with many accomplishments in his career with Al Sadd before moving to Al Shamal this season.
He has displayed a great desire to continue his success with a distinguished performance in the first two rounds with Al Shamal.
Bounedjah’s compatriot and captain of Umm Salal - Victor Lekhal is another prominent player having scored two goals for the Orange Fortress.
Lekhal, a striker led his side to a crucial 3-1 win against Al Shamal after they had lost the opener to Al Rayyan 2-3.
Umm Salal’s Moroccan pro Oussama Tannane had scored Umm Salal’s first goal in the league this season against Al Rayyan.
For Al Wakrah, Moroccan Ayoub Assal has excelled in the first two rounds, despite his team’s drawn results against Al Ahli and Al Arabi. Assal scored a goal and provided a fine assist in the opening round against Al Ahli, in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw. Assal is one of the mainstays of Al Wakrah in the Ooredoo Stars League.
Last season, he contributed with his teammates in the team winning the Qatar Cup.
Syrian striker Omar al-Somah meanwhile has been back for Al Arabi after missing from the first round, and scored the equalizer for his side against Al Wakrah in the second round after coming off the bench as a substitute.
He quickly made his mark within minutes only after taking to the field. Al Somah dedicated his first goal to Al Arabi in the league this season and the club’s fans hope that the player will continue performing for The Dream Team.
Al Duhail are currently leading the standings with 6 points followed by Al Ahli with 4 points.
Al Sadd, Al Shamal, Umm Salal and Al Rayyan all have three points each.
Qatar SC, who have suffered two reversals are bottom placed in 12th position and are hoping to overcome the losses in the first two rounds against Al Duhail and Al Sadd.
It is still early days in the championship and Qatar SC under national coach Yousef al-Noubi aim to get back on track when they meet Al Shamal in their next fixture on Thursday.
Qatar SC have added a new Arab professional to their team having signed up Egyptian Ahmed Abdelkader from Al Ahly club of Egypt for one season on loan.
Qatar Stars League has a string of Arab players and also includes Algerian Yacine Brahimi who
plays for Al Gharafa player and is currently recuperating from an injury. Brahimi had competed strongly last season for the best player award which was won by Al Sadd’s Akram Afif, while Tunisian Youssef Msakni had won the award in the 2022-23 season.
Bounedjah has previously won the league’s top-scorer award for 2020-2021 season.
Ooredoo Stars League top-scorer after 2 rounds: Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Shamal) 4 goals; Michael Olunga (Al Duhail) 3 goals; Almoez Ali (Al Duhail), Ismail Mohamed (Al Duhail), Rafael Mujica (Al Sadd), Sekou Yansane (Al Ahli) and Victor Lekhal (Umm Salal) - all 2 goals each.
Most assists: Luis Alberto (Al Duhail) 3; Almoez Ali (Al Duhail) 2, Julian Draxler (Al Ahli) 2 and Oussama Tannane (Umm Salal) 2.