The Group One game is set for 7pm Tuesday at Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Hall. Shabab Al Ahli lost the first meeting 75-68.
Points put the pressure on the hosts
Al Wasl lead the group with five points. Shabab Al Ahli sit third on three points from two matches, behind second-placed Al Bataeh on four. A win would put the hosts in second place.
Al Wasl would stay top even if they lose. The gap is clear.
FIBA reported that Shabab Al Ahli lost 86-100 to Sagesse SC in the WASL third-place game and finished the tournament with bronze.
Shabab Al Ahli also beat Al Wasl 95-68 last Saturday. In a separate international competition, FIBA reported on September 27 that Shabab Al Ahli had been eliminated from the WASL semi-final play-in after Al Arabi SC completed a reverse series sweep.
A separate UAE sporting storyline
The UAE sports calendar also features the UAE rugby team's Nagoya campaign, a different competition from this club-level cup race. In Group Two, Al Nasr remain alone at the top with eight points. They beat Al Jazira 87-75 in Abu Dhabi in the fourth round of the return preliminary stage.
UAE Cue Sports reported that the UAE Basketball Federation moved the start of the Men's Open Championship to September 17, 2026, because clubs were participating in international competitions.
The stakes differ. Shabab Al Ahli need a win to improve their position. Al Wasl can hold on to first place even in defeat. Tuesday's result matters most to the hosts as a chance to climb the table, not just as a shot at revenge.
