Kumel Saadi Latif Al-Rekabe (Arabic: كميل سعدي لطيف الركابي; born 19 August 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Iraqi Stars League side Naft Al Basra. Born in Switzerland, he represents Iraq at youth level.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kumel Saadi Latif Al-Rekabe | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 19 August 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Aarau, Switzerland | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | C.D. Léganes | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| –2021 | Adliswil Youth | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021-2022 | FC Zurich | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | FC Adliswil | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Red Star Zurich | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024-2024 | Naft Al Basra | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Iraq U23 | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 4, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 4, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
Club career
editEarly career in Switzerland
editBorn in Switzerland, to Iraqi parents Al-Rekabe joined the youth ranks of FC Adliswil. He made his senior debut on October 10, 2020, in a heavy 7-0 defeat against Lachen/Altendorf.[1] On July 1, 2021, he joined FC Zurich, where he was assigned to the u17 team.[2] After spending a season in the youth side, he moved to fifth division side Red Star Zurich for the 2022-2023 season.[3][4] He made his debut on October 9, 2022, in a 2-1 win over FC Unterstrass. He made a further two appearances that season as his team finished 4th in the table.[5]
Naft Al Basra
editIn early 2024, Al-Rekabe joined Iraqi team Naft Al Basra.[6] He made his debut against Al Mina'a during a 2-1 loss in the Basra Derby.[7] He made two more appearances that season as Naft Al Basra narrowly avoided relegation. He left the club at the end of the season.
International career
editIraq U23
editBorn in Switzerland, Al-Rekabe is eligible to represent both Switzerland and Iraq.
Al-Rekabe was called up to the 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship, where he won best goalkeeper on route to Iraq winning the title.[8] Despite these accolades, he was the subject of criticism for his performance and blunders.[9]
Al-Rekabe was called up to the 2024 Asian Cup U23 qualifiers, held in Kuwait, in which Iraq topped the group and qualified, he kept a clean sheet against Macau, and featured in the 2-2 draw against Kuwait.[10] He was also called up to the final tournament, but did not feature in any match as Iraq finished 3rd overall and qualified to the 2024 Olympic Games.
In June 2024, he was named in the final squad for the Olympic Games, but did not make an appearance as Iraq crashed out from the group stage[11]
Senior team
editIn June 2024, Al-Rekabe was a surprise inclusion in Iraq's World Cup qualification squad to face Indonesia and Vietnam.[12] He was an unused substitute as Iraq went on to win both games and finish top of their group.[13]
Honours
editIraq U-23
Individual
- WAFF U-23 Championship Best goalkeeper: 2023[8]