On a special football night hosted by the main stadium of Ohod Club, the “Al-Ameed” Academy team was crowned champion of the Amateur Football League Championship in Madinah for the youth category (under 18 years old), after defeating its counterpart, the “Al-Aqeed” Academy team, in the final match with a penalty shootout with a score of (4-2), after the original time of the match ended in a goalless draw amidst a highly competitive atmosphere.
Details of the final scene and the tournament's journey
The final match was a closely contested affair, with both teams displaying strong defensive discipline and tactical awareness throughout regulation time. This resulted in a goalless draw, forcing the game into a penalty shootout which ultimately favored Al-Ittihad. The tournament, which ran from January 28th to February 16th, 2026, featured 16 teams from various neighborhoods across Medina. The preliminary rounds, culminating in the semi-finals, were all held at the reserve stadium of Al-Ahli Club, reflecting the fruitful collaboration between the official clubs and the amateur league.
The importance of amateur championships and the future of talent
These tournaments are of paramount importance in the Saudi sports scene, as the amateur league serves as the primary source for discovering and developing young talent before their move to professional clubs. These competitions align with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in the sports sector, which aims to increase the number of sports participants and raise the level of competitiveness at the grassroots level. Medina has historically been a wellspring of footballing talent that has supported national teams and numerous professional league clubs, giving such tournaments significant appeal to club scouts and those interested in sports.
Awards and crowning
Following the end of the match, the crowning ceremony took place, where the players of “Al-Ameed” received the championship cup and gold medals in addition to the financial prize allocated for first place, amounting to 10,000 riyals, while the players of “Al-Aqeed” received silver medals and a financial prize of 5,000 riyals, in recognition of their efforts and reaching the final scene.
Technical and organizational praise
For his part, the association's vice president, Qasim Al-Rifai, confirmed in a press statement that the tournament achieved its desired goals of discovering young talents and providing a professional competitive environment. Al-Rifai praised the advanced technical level and high level of discipline demonstrated by the participating academies, emphasizing the association's commitment to continuing to organize such events, which directly contribute to the development of youth football in the region and promote sportsmanship among the youth of Medina.
