The Esteghlal Ahvaz Courier
Match3 Oct 2026
A hiding for Esteghlal Ahvaz
Beaten 0‑3 by Tractor, and beaten everywhere it matters. The inquest starts on the training pitch on Monday morning.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
Milad Ahmadipouri says Esteghlal Ahvaz went back on their word
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Squad5 Oct 2026
Words at Esteghlal Ahvaz training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Shohruz Norxonov is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Squad5 Oct 2026
A falling-out at Esteghlal Ahvaz
Sina Ghanbarpour and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
No hiding place for Amir Hossein Nikpour
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Amir Hossein Nikpour, and the manager let it.
Boardroom5 Oct 2026
Nobody left the Esteghlal Ahvaz dressing room in a hurry
The door stayed shut a long time after the final whistle. What was said in there is between them; whether it worked is between them and Saturday.
Market5 Oct 2026
Esteghlal Ahvaz finally fill the problem position with Sirojiddin Solijonov
Every supporter in the ground could have named the hole in this team, and most of them did, loudly, for months. Sirojiddin Solijonov has been signed to close it.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
Sardar Khodadad: “No excuses”
“I could talk about decisions and I could talk about luck. I will not. We lost.” The manager, 0‑3, and a press conference that lasted four minutes.
Player ratings5 Oct 2026
Ali Kolahkaj's mistake decides it
Ten men and a goalkeeper behind him, and it still finished in the net. He knew before anybody told him, and nobody at Esteghlal Ahvaz needed to.
In brief
- Squad Ehsan Dejagah makes the team of the month
- The dugout Ali Kolahkaj is still paying for one afternoon at Esteghlal Ahvaz
- Looking ahead Mohammad Hossein Sadeghi faces his old club