The "General" has lost none of his influence. This Friday, February 13, 2026, during the 21st matchday of the Saudi Pro League, Franck Yannick Kessié once again proved that he remains the driving force behind Al-Ahli. In a crucial match for the title race, the Elephants' captain led his team to a resounding 5-2 victory.

A decisive leader at the heart of the game

With the game still in doubt, the "Panther of Zebizekou" emerged to score the decisive goal. Alongside stars like Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney , Kessié is establishing himself not only as an opportunistic finisher, but above all as the vocal and technical leader of the Saudi dressing room.

Silence as the only response to criticism

This performance comes at a particular time for the former Milan player. Marked by Ivory Coast's elimination against Egypt at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco , the midfielder had faced harsh criticism for his lack of sharpness and poor international form.

True to his character, Kessié chose to respond on the pitch. Despite the sporadic boos that accompanied his return from international duty, his professionalism remains exemplary: no controversy, no outbursts, just formidable efficiency in crucial moments.

Al-Ahli puts pressure on the leader

Thanks to this success, Al-Ahli maintains the infernal pace set by Al-Hilal .

1. Current standings: Al-Ahli is only 3 points behind the leader (56 points).
2. Next match: A seemingly easy home game against the bottom-ranked team, Al-Najma FC (5 points), where Kessié will have the opportunity to improve his statistics.

Whether you judge his game as "heavy" or "slow," Franck Kessié demonstrates once again that he is a man for the big occasion. The Panther still roars in Saudi Arabia.