Kalidou Koulibaly provides assist as Al-Hilal beat Shabab Al-Ahli

Kalidou Koulibaly registered an assist as Al-Hilal secured a 2-0 victory over Shabab Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday, helping the Saudi Arabian side maintain their strong start to the continental competition.

The Senegal international played a key role in his team’s opening goal, setting up Ollie Watkins in the sixth minute to give Al-Hilal an early advantage.

The defender won possession before playing the ball into the path of Watkins, who made no mistake in finishing the move to put his side ahead.

Al-Hilal continued to control proceedings and extended their lead shortly after the restart. Watkins struck again in the 46th minute, completing his brace with the help of Yusuf Akçiçek, whose assist allowed the English forward to score his second goal of the evening.

Koulibaly’s contribution was another positive moment in what has been a productive campaign for the experienced defender since the start of the 2026-27 season.

The former Chelsea and Napoli centre-back has now recorded two assists in 16 appearances for Al-Hilal across all competitions. He has accumulated 1,354 minutes of playing time, underlining his continued importance to the team’s defensive setup.

Although primarily known for his defensive qualities, the Senegal captain has also demonstrated his ability to contribute in attacking situations, with his latest assist adding to his growing influence at the Saudi Arabian club.

The victory was also important for Al-Hilal’s position in the AFC Champions League standings. The Riyadh-based side have collected nine points from their opening four matches and remain at the top of their group.

Their latest result keeps them firmly on course in the continental competition as they continue their pursuit of another successful Asian Champions League campaign.

For Koulibaly, the performance provides another reminder of the value he brings to Al-Hilal, with the Senegalese defender continuing to make important contributions at both ends of the pitch.