Al Hilal Clinch AFC Champions League Elite Group Win with Nunez Brace

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Al Hilal secured a 2-1 victory over Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates on Monday, February 16, 2026, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, cementing their place in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Elite as the only team in the competition to remain undefeated.^[1]

Nunez Shines Despite League Exclusion

Former Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez scored twice for Simone Inzaghi’s side, including the 77th-minute winner. ^[2] Notably, Núñez has been excluded from Al Hilal’s squad for the second half of the Saudi league season following the arrival of Karim Benzema, but his impact in the Asian Champions League has been undeniable.

Match Details

Al Hilal finished atop the western group phase standings with seven wins and a single draw from eight matches. ^[2] The match saw a dynamic exchange, with Núñez opening the scoring in the 19th minute with a header from a Ruben Neves free kick. Al Wahda quickly responded, equalizing through Brahima Diarra just 13 minutes later.

Other AFC Champions League Elite Results

Elsewhere in the competition, Shabab Al-Ahli progressed to the last 16 despite a 4-3 loss against defending champions Al-Ahli. A 2-1 defeat for Sharjah FC against Nasaf guaranteed that the Dubai-based side would finish among the top eight teams. ^[2]

Al-Duhail will have to wait to learn their fate after losing 3-2 to Al Shorta from Iraq. ^[2]

Key Moments

• 19th Minute: Darwin Núñez scores for Al Hilal.
• 32nd Minute: Brahima Diarra equalizes for Al Wahda.
• 77th Minute: Darwin Núñez scores the winning goal for Al Hilal.

Looking Ahead

The top eight finishers advance to the round of 16 in March, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final to be played in a centralized format in Jeddah in April. ^[2] Al Hilal’s dominant performance positions them as strong contenders for the title.