RIYADH: Khalid Al-Ghannam is making a compelling case for a return to the Saudi national team in time for the World Cup this summer, not least after his starring role in Al-Ettifaq’s 3-1 away victory over Al-Okhdood in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday.
It was the 11th league goal of the season for the winger, who has only four caps for the Green Falcons so far. Four assists raises his total number of goal contributions to 15 this season, just one behind the most prolific Saudi player in the league this season, Salem Al-Dawsari (eight goals and eight assists).
Al-Ghannam’s 74th-minute strike was the highlight of the night, as he leapt to capitalize on a loose clearance by Hussain Al-Zabdani and fired a spectacular bicycle kick past Al-Okhdood goalkeeper Samuel Portugal.
The goal reflected what has been an impressive season for the 25-year-old and could boost his chances of earning a starting spot with the national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.
Al-Ghannam recently returned to the national setup after a four-year drought that followed his first three international appearances, when he played 61 minutes in Herve Renard’s penultimate match in charge, a 4-0 defeat to Egypt in March.
He also has a connection with Renard’s successor as head coach of the Saudi national team, Giorgos Donis, who previously worked with Al-Ghannam at club level; the Greek manager brought the winger to Al-Fateh on loan in 2023, giving him a major opportunity early in his career.
Only 22 years old at the time, Al-Ghannam made 15 appearances and contributed to five goals as Al-Fateh finished sixth in the league under Donis.
The Saudi breakout star has also been an important presence with Al-Ettifaq this season, after playing only 195 minutes on loan with Al-Hilal last season. His performances have helped push the club into seventh place, with an outside chance of catching Al-Taawoun in fifth and securing a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite play-offs.
Al-Ghannam’s goal on Thursday came between Alvaro Medran’s opener, just before half time, and Georginio Wijnaldum’s effort in the 79th minute that all-but sealed the deal for Al-Ettifaq.
The victory left Al-Ettifaq on 45 points, just four behind fifth-place Al-Taawoun, with four games left to play. Al-Ittihad are on 48 points in sixth but have a game in hand.
The defeat moved Al-Okhdood deeper into relegation trouble; the Najran-based club remain second-bottom on 16 points after 30 matches out of 34, 10 behind Damac who currently occupy the final safe spot.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Al-Kholood and Al-Fayha played out a 1-1 draw at Al-Hazem Stadium in Al-Rass. Chris Smalling opened the scoring for Al-Fayha in the 30th minute, before Iker Kortajarena equalized nine minutes later.
The result moves 14th-place Al-Kholood, in their first season of foreign ownership under American investor Ben Harburg, closer to top-flight survival on 30 points but still not quite safe.
The Pro League action continues on Saturday when, in the headline fixture of the night, Al-Hazem will host title challengers Al-Hilal, who aim to close the eight-point gap on league leaders Al-Nassr.
