The Ivorian star Franck Kessié expressed his great happiness with a new continental achievement with Al-Ahli Saudi, confirming that the victory was the result of a journey filled with work and challenges up to the decisive moment.

Frank Kessié, a player for Al-Ahli Saudi FC, expressed his great pride in his team's victory in the Asian Champions League for the elite for the second consecutive time, following their 1-0 win against Japan's Machida Zelvia in the final match.

Kessié posted a message on his official Instagram account, saying: "Asian champions for the second consecutive time, what a wonderful journey we had once again. Proud to lift the elite cup for the second year in a row."

He added: "From the first day of preparation until the final whistle, everything was based on hard work, faith, and unity. We remained focused and cohesive throughout the journey."

The Ivorian star expressed his gratitude to his teammates and the coaching staff, as well as the Al Ahly fans, emphasizing that their continuous support was one of the key factors in achieving this continental success.

The winning goal came through Firas Al-Buraikan in the 97th minute during extra time, granting "Al-Raqi" a new title after a tough match against the Japanese team.

With this victory, Al-Ahli continued to make history, securing their second consecutive title following the 2025 edition where they defeated Kawasaki Frontale, thereby strengthening the position of Saudi clubs in the continental championship.

Al-Ahli also raised the tally of Saudi clubs to 8 titles in the AFC Champions League, equaling the record of Japanese clubs. Al-Hilal tops the list with 4 championships, followed by Al-Ittihad with two titles, and then Al-Ahli with two titles.

This achievement comes to affirm the strength of the Ahli project and the continuity of success at the continental level, amidst technical stability and increasing ambition within the club.