Doha, November 7, 2026
Al Rayyan secured an important 81-64 victory over Al Shamal in their matchup on Saturday evening at Al Gharafa Club Hall, as part of Round 7 of the 2026-2027 Men’s General Basketball League.
Al Rayyan entered the game with strong offensive focus and successfully imposed its rhythm from the opening quarter, which it won 24-11. The team benefited from effective off-ball movement and its ability to exploit gaps in Al Shamal’s defense.
In the second quarter, Al Shamal improved its performance and scored 20 points compared to Al Rayyan’s 19, slightly reducing the deficit. However, Al Rayyan maintained its advantage going into halftime.
The third quarter was evenly contested, ending in a 12-12 tie. Al Rayyan regained control in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 points to Al Shamal’s 21, confirming its superiority and securing a 17-point victory. The team displayed discipline and composure in managing its lead through the final seconds of the game.
The statistics reflected Al Rayyan’s superiority, particularly from beyond the arc. The team made 17 three-pointers from 50 attempts for a 34% shooting percentage, compared to Al Shamal’s 8 successful three-pointers from 31 attempts at 25%.
Al Rayyan also held the edge in assists, recording 23 compared to Al Shamal’s 17, and in steals, with 13 against just 2 for Al Shamal. In addition, Al Rayyan committed only 7 turnovers, while Al Shamal turned the ball over 16 times, a significant factor in the outcome of the contest.
Despite the loss, Osama Abdulnasser Arafa delivered an outstanding performance for Al Shamal, finishing as the game’s leading scorer with 20 points while also grabbing 24 rebounds, making him the most influential player on the boards.
For Al Rayyan, scoring responsibilities were shared among several players. Abdullah Yassin Mousa contributed 19 points, Malik Romero Carey added 18 points, and Babacar Dieng scored 16 points, highlighting the team’s multiple offensive options capable of making a difference.
With this victory, Al Rayyan increased its tally to 7 points from four games, moving into fifth place after recording three wins and one loss, continuing to strengthen its position in the standings.
Meanwhile, Al Shamal’s total rose to 9 points from six games, having earned three wins and suffered three defeats. The team remains level on points with league leaders Al Arabi and occupies second place in the standings.
Round 7 action is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, with two matches at the Basketball Federation Hall. Al Gharafa will face Al Arabi at 6:00 p.m., while Qatar Sports Club will take on Al Khor at 8:00 p.m., with all four teams aiming to improve their records and enhance their positions in the league table.