Having finished the campaign with 66 points and beaten their own 64-point tally record in 2014, Al Ahli were confirmed the winners of the UAE’s top division on April 28 after their closest rivals, Al Ain, lost 3-2 to Al Fujairah in the penultimate round, thereby extinguishing any hope of catching up with Cosmin Olaroiu’s side who were leading the standings by six points.

Al Ahli have since garnered another four points - a 2-2 draw with Bani Yas on April 30 and then Sunday's three points against Al Shaab.

The Dubai side led Al Shaab 2-0 at the break thanks to an opener by Salmeen Khamis on 40 minutes and Senegalese Moussa Sow’s strike on the stroke of half-time.

Brazilian Everton Ribeiro made it 3-0 on 61 minutes and Sow clinched his second and Al Ahli’s fourth after 79 minutes, before Bazilian Ciel rounded off the scoring six minutes later.

Al Ahli will be hoping to make amends in the 2017 edition of the AFC Champions League after failing to qualify for the current edition, despite reaching the final of the 2015 campaign (pictured) where they succumbed to China’s Guangzhou Evergrande by a single goal.

Photo: Lagardère Sports