After the end of the 2021–22 season, the Football Association did not specify the mechanism for the participation of clubs and their number in the subsequent season, and the matter remained ambiguous. Orally and in the media, the Football Association decided that the system of playing in the league will be according to the professional league system, and any club that did not complete its file according to the Club Licensing Law will not participate.[6] The president of Football Association, Adnan Dirjal promised the president of Al-Minaa club and the governor of Basra that the Al-Minaa team would play in the Iraqi Premier League and not in the Iraqi First Division League if the club completed the licensing file. Based on the foregoing, the club contracted with coach Basim Qasim and five professionals, paid all their debts and completed the licensing file.[7][8] But the club was surprised by the decision of the Football Association to reverse its decision to play according to the professional league system and not to accredit the licensed clubs, and that they were deceived by the Football Association.[9][10][11]
The club's administrative problems and the unfair decision of the Football Association directly affected the bad start of the Al-Minaa matches, as it exited early from the FA Cup, and it also lost its first match in the First Division League by a difference of 3 goals.[12]
However, the team gradually improved, and in the last rounds of the league, it topped Group 2, finished its matches at the top with 46 points, and was promoted to the Premier League and return after only one season,[13] and it was decided that the team would play the final match in Baghdad on May 26, 2023 against Amanat Baghdad to determine the league champion.[14][15] The Al-Minaa administration demanded that the match be transferred to Basra due to the large number of fans of the Al-Minaa, so that the match would be more attended,[16] and the Amanat Baghdad administration agreed to that.[17] Later, the Football Association decided that the match would be held on 2 June in Al-Fayhaa Stadium.[18]
In the final, Al-Minaa was able to defeat Amanat Baghdad, 2–1, and win the title. The goals of Al-Minaa were scored by Sajjad Alaa (6') and Salem Ahmed (37'), while the goal of Amanat Baghdad was scored by Karrar Ali Bari (53').[19][20]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
On December 26, 2022, the Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium was inaugurated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in preparation for the establishment of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup,[46][47] where the tournament will take place on this stadium in addition to the Basra Sports City. The opening included a ceremony in which the retired Al-Minaa stars were honored.[48] After that, a friendly match took place between Al-Minaa and Kuwait,[49] in which Kuwait won 2–1. Ali Hussain (57') and Taha Yassine Khenissi (66') scored the double for Kuwait, and Karrar Mohammed scored for Al-Minaa from a penalty kick in the 89th minute.[50][51][52] Despite the completion of the construction of the stadium, the stadium was not handed over to the club to play its matches on it, due to some side deficiencies in it. Therefore, Basra Sports City will remain the temporary stadium for the team this season.
^This match, which was originally scheduled to take place on December 24, 2022, was postponed due to Al-Minaa’s association with the opening match of Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium against Kuwait on the 26th of the same month.[53]
^This match, which was scheduled to take place on March 17, 2023, was postponed to the next day, and then postponed to March 25, 2023 due to the pitch floor was not eligible after rain.[54]
