Amid great public anticipation, Mohammed Noor made a provocative statement that could ignite the competition, praising Al Ahli's capabilities and expressing confidence in their ability to clinch the continental title.

While he believes that Al Hilal benefits from the break to regain its strength, he still sees Al Ahli as the 'dark horse' that will surprise everyone, especially with the expected fan support in Jeddah, where there is no room for defeat in the stands of the club's passionate supporters.

Former Union star Mohammed Noor announced that Al Ahli has a significant advantage in winning the AFC Champions League title this season.

Noor confirmed that the international break favors Al Hilal, but it does not change his opinion on the true title contender.

He explained that hosting the tournament in Jeddah provides Al Ahli with tremendous fan support that is hard to ignore in such competitions.

He pointed out that Al Ahli often excels when tournaments are held in a centralized format, which enhances their chances of winning.

Al Hilal faces Guangzhou, Al Ahli takes on Buriram, Al Nassr meets Yokohama, and Al Sadd encounters Kawasaki in a major clash.