JEDDAH — Al Hilal's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, was awarded Man of the Match in the King's Cup final after leading his team to victory through a penalty shootout. Bounou saved crucial penalties from Al Nassr players Ali Al-Hassan and Mishari Al-Nimr, with the latter being the decisive seventh penalty. Bounou carried a significant load throughout the four periods of the match, which extended to extra time, especially after the dismissal of central defenders Ali Al-Bulayhi and Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly before the end of the second half. Bounou met all the criteria for the award: being from the winning team, contributing effectively to the victory, and not receiving a red card. These conditions were announced prior to the grand final. Yassine Bounou expressed that his team had an exceptional season, achieving all three local championships due to the significant efforts and unity within the team throughout the season. In his interview with SSC channels, Bounou highlighted the tremendous efforts leading to these accomplishments and acknowledged Al Nassr's strong performance, which made the match enjoyable for all. Bounou emphasized the exhausting nature of the season and credited the hard work for the successful results. He noted that the challenges faced by the team showcased their collective spirit, particularly in the match against Al Nassr that went to penalties. Describing the season as "exceptional" for Al Hilal, Bounou praised the immense support from the team's fans and said that playing for such a prestigious team requires giving one's best to make the supporters proud.
