Just like Jordan’s Musa Al Taamari, Dabbagh went from scoring goals in the AFC Cup™ to playing in top European leagues and carrying the hopes of his nation ahead of the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023.
The Jerusalem-born forward was identified as an exceptional talent from a young age, making his senior debut at the age of 16. Over the course of the next four years, he led the club to three consecutive West Bank Premier League titles, winning the competition’s top scorer award in the 2018-19 season.
That same season, he made his continental bow in the AFC Cup, playing every minute of Hilal Alquds group stage campaign, scoring four goals, including three across the double-header against Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC which the Palestinian side won 2-1 on both occasions, registering their first-ever wins in the competition. His goals made him the highest scoring Palestinian player in AFC Cup history.
Five months before his 21st birthday, Dabbagh left his home country for the first time to start an adventure that saw him travel to Kuwait, Portugal and Belgium over the following four years.
Having represented Al Salmiya, Al Qadsia and Al Yarmuk, it was in the colours of Al Arabi that Dabbagh really shone in Kuwait, helping the green side to the 2020-21 Kuwaiti Premier League title with his 13 goals that saw him crowned as the top scorer in the competition.
It was then time to make the next big step with a move to Portugal where he joined top division side Arouca in 2021. Despite scoring on his home debut and his full debut against giants Sporting Lisbon, Dabbagh struggled in his first season, ending the campaign with four goals in 23 appearances.
The following season started with an injury, but soon enough the player was banging in the goals, hitting six in his first ten matches.
Once more on the move, Dabbagh started the 2023-24 Belgian Pro League season on fire having joined Charleroi in July, and is now sitting on four goals and two assists from his first 14 games for his new club.
“I want to reach the pinnacle of the sport and play in the biggest leagues in the world,” said the Palestinian international, highlighting his unlimited ambition.
“Of course this is a great feeling and a source of pride not just for me but for all Palestinians,” he added, discussing becoming the first Palestinian to play in a top European league. “I hope I can play well and be an ambassador for Palestinian players.”
The striker, who played two AFC Asian Cup matches in 2019 – coming off the bench against Australia and starting against Jordan – will have a chance to show his talents to fans across the continent in Qatar where he returns as arguably the highest profile player in the Palestinian squad, having already scored six goals in the qualifiers to help them reach Qatar 2023, their third consecutive appearance in the competition.
- نویسنده : محمدمهدی اسماعیلی رها
Thursday, 17 July , 2025