Nebras Salman advises Ayman Hussein to return to the Stars League

Ayman Hussein, the Iraqi national team striker, has received advice from coach Nebras Salman about his future and the team he will represent next season, especially since the player has become a free agent and is currently not tied to any club after his contract with Al-Karma ended this summer.

Ayman Hussein, 30, represented Iraq in the 2026 World Cup, playing two matches against Norway and France. He scored Iraq's only goal in the tournament with a stunning header against the Norwegian team, equaling the historic record held by the late Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi.

Nebras Suleiman stated, "Ayman showed good levels in the 2026 World Cup, but before the tournament, he did not present a strong case to be considered a robust player ready to face new challenges, whether in the Iraqi Premier League or through a move abroad. Therefore, he needs to review himself in the upcoming period."

He added: "You feel that Ayman Hussein has lost his passion in the last season, especially with Al-Karma, as he suffered from many injuries and did not participate regularly. Therefore, he needs something to motivate him, and I believe he should return to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, as it is the team where he shone and was at his best when representing the Falcons."

Nebras stated: "The Air Force fans are the ones who will motivate Ayman Hussein, and he also loves the Falcons' supporters. Therefore, there is no love except for the first beloved, and he must choose the technical benefits over the financial ones. Especially since the player will be evaluated in the upcoming period, and the national team coach may look to refresh the squad, so he must prove he is the best in his position."

Ayman Hussein is closing in on the 100-cap milestone with the Iraqi national team, having played 93 matches for the "Lions of Mesopotamia" so far, scoring 33 goals in the process. He has also participated in 17 matches with the Olympic team, netting three goals, in addition to representing the Iraqi youth national team.

Ayman has entered negotiations with Erbil to represent them in the new season of the Iraqi Premier League, as coach Luay Salah is eager to secure his signing. The club's management has confirmed their readiness to offer him one billion Iraqi dinars, equivalent to approximately 769,000 US dollars.