1. Early life and background
Faisal Al-Dakhil was born on August 13, 1957, in Kuwait City, within the Al Asimah Governorate of Kuwait. From a young age, he showed immense talent in football, which led him to pursue a professional career as a forward. His foundational years laid the groundwork for a distinguished career at both club and international levels.
2. Club career
Faisal Al-Dakhil spent his entire club career playing for Qadsia SC (also known as Al-Qadsiya Club or Al-Qadisiya Kuwait), one of Kuwait's most successful football clubs. His tenure with Qadsia spanned from the 1973-74 season through the 1987-88 season, during which he became a vital part of the team's attacking force. Throughout his years at the club, Al-Dakhil contributed to multiple domestic triumphs, cementing his legacy as a key player in Qadsia's golden era.
2.1. Club statistics
The following table provides a statistical overview of Faisal Al-Dakhil's appearances and goals during his club career with Qadsia SC:
| Club | Season | League | Kuwait Emir Cup | Independence Cup | Kuwait Joint League | Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||||||
| Qadsia SC | 1973-74 | KPL | 2 | - | |||||||||||||
| 1974-75 | 7 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1975-76 | 15 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1976-77 | 11 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1977-78 | 4 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1978-79 | 7 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1979-80 | 18 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1980-81 | 21 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1981-82 | 0 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1982-83 | 0 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1983-84 | 7 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1984-85 | 22 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1985-86 | 7 | - | |||||||||||||||
| 1986-87 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| 1987-88 | 11 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Career total | !141 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 169 | ||||||||||||
3. International career
Faisal Al-Dakhil was a pivotal member of the Kuwait national football team during its most successful period in the late 1970s and 1980s. His debut and consistent performance made him a key player in Kuwait's achievements on the regional and international stages.
3.1. Major tournaments
Al-Dakhil represented Kuwait in several significant international tournaments, making a notable impact in each.
- 1976 Arabian Gulf Cup: He was part of the Kuwaiti squad that won the Arabian Gulf Cup in 1976, marking one of his early international successes.
- 1980 Summer Olympics: Al-Dakhil played four matches for Kuwait at the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow. In one particularly memorable match on July 21, 1980, at Dynamo Stadion against Nigeria, he scored three goals.
- 1980 AFC Asian Cup: He played a crucial role in Kuwait's victory at the 1980 AFC Asian Cup, where they secured their first continental title. In the final match against South Korea, Al-Dakhil scored two goals, leading Kuwait to a decisive 3-0 win.
- 1982 FIFA World Cup: Al-Dakhil participated in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, a historic moment for Kuwait as it was their first appearance in the tournament. He scored a significant goal in the group stage match against Czechoslovakia, which resulted in a 1-1 draw. This goal was Kuwait's first-ever goal in a FIFA World Cup, and the single point secured in that match remains Kuwait's only point in World Cup finals history to date.
- 1984 AFC Asian Cup: He also featured in the 1984 AFC Asian Cup, where Kuwait finished in third place.
- 1986 Arabian Gulf Cup: Al-Dakhil was part of the Kuwaiti team that won the Arabian Gulf Cup for a second time in 1986.
3.2. International goals
The following table lists his notable goals scored for the Kuwait national team during the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup Finals:
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980-09-25 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | Qatar | 4-0 | Win | 1980 AFC Asian Cup |
| 1980-09-25 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | Qatar | 4-0 | Win | 1980 AFC Asian Cup |
| 1980-09-28 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | Iran | 2-1 | Win | 1980 AFC Asian Cup |
| 1980-09-30 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | South Korea | 3-0 | Win | 1980 AFC Asian Cup |
| 1980-09-30 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | South Korea | 3-0 | Win | 1980 AFC Asian Cup |
| 1982-06-17 | Valladolid, Spain | Czechoslovakia | 1-1 | Draw | 1982 FIFA World Cup |
| 1984-12-09 | Singapore | Syria | 3-1 | Win | 1984 AFC Asian Cup |
4. Honours
Faisal Al-Dakhil accumulated an impressive list of team and individual honours throughout his illustrious career.
- Club
- Qadsia SC
- Kuwaiti Premier League: 1972-73, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1977-78
- Kuwait Emir Cup: 1973-74, 1974-75, 1978-79, 1988-89
- International
- Kuwait
- AFC Asian Cup: 1980
- Regional
- Kuwait
- Arabian Gulf Cup: 1976, 1986
- Kuwait
- Kuwait
- Qadsia SC
5. Legacy and impact
Faisal Al-Dakhil is widely regarded as one of the most iconic figures in the history of Kuwaiti football. His exceptional talent, goal-scoring ability, and leadership on the field inspired a generation of players and fans. His contributions to the national team's success, particularly the historic 1980 AFC Asian Cup triumph and Kuwait's maiden appearance and goal in the 1982 FIFA World Cup, firmly established his status as a national sporting hero. He remains a symbol of Kuwait's golden era in football, and his achievements are remembered as foundational moments in the nation's sporting identity.
[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/aldekheel-intlg.html Faisal al-Dakhil - International Goals]