The Al-Zawraa team is experiencing a complex phase in the 2025-2026 season, coinciding with signs of improved performance and a wide absence crisis that threatens its path in the Iraq Stars League. The 'Nawras' who went through a series of negative results that distanced them from the top battle, have recently started to catch their breath, but human and technical challenges strongly impose themselves on coach Luay Salah's table.

The Al-Zawraa bench has seen successive changes this season, with three coaches taking turns leading the team: Abdul Ghani Shahad, then Emad Al-Nahhas, and finally Luay Salah. This repeated change has reflected on the technical stability and left its mark on the results and ranking, before signs of gradual performance improvement began to appear in recent rounds.

The main challenge now is to play the next three matches in the competition with the absence of six influential players at once, in addition to injuries the team suffers from, most notably the absence of goalkeeper Jalal Hassan. This numerical shortage makes Al-Zawraa one of the most affected clubs during the international break, raising the level of concern among the technical staff before the competitions resume.

In media statements, Luay Salah explained that the technical staff has initiated a radical change in the playing style, and the players have started to respond to the proposed ideas. He said, "Thank God, there is a clear response from the group, and we hope the team will appear better in the upcoming matches despite the great difficulties we face this season."

He added that the performance curve of Al-Zawraa has been noticeably rising recently, especially in terms of creating opportunities and threatening opponents' goals through various methods from the flanks and the center. He confirmed that work is ongoing to develop other aspects, noting that any technical project needs time for ideas to be entrenched within the group.

Salah did not hide the impact of absences, whether due to injuries or the joining of several players to the Iraqi national team, explaining that these absences came after a period of formation stability, which represents a double challenge. He pointed out that the situation will become more complicated after facing Amanat Baghdad, with the joining of Jordanian duo Abdullah Naseeb and Amer Jamous to the Jordan national team.

The coach concluded his talk by emphasizing that the goal is clear in coordination with the club's management: to present good performance and return the team to its natural place, with readiness to play a strong match against Amanat Baghdad aiming for victory and enhancing the Nawras' position in the standings.

This scene comes in light of the Iraqi Football Federation's decision to continue the Iraq Stars League competitions even during the international break days and Iraq's participation in the global play-off, due to the many postponements the competition has witnessed this season.