Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: AFC Cup 2016 leading scorer Hammadi Ahmed insists he and his Air Force Club team-mates will need to raise their game ahead of Saturday’s final with India’s JSW Bengaluru FC in the Qatari capital.
The two teams face off at Sultan Bin Hamad Stadium for their debut appearance in the AFC Cup final and although the Iraqi Premier League side are without suspended playmaker Bashar Resan and defender Samal Saeed, their forward line will be led once more by the prolific Ahmed who has netted 15 times in the continental competition.
“We have to fight hard and lift our level on Saturday because it’s the final of the AFC Cup competition,” says Iraq international Ahmed, who counts Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi as his footballing idols.
“We will look to reduce our mistakes, and – although we must respect our opponents – we must focus very strongly in the game.”
Ahmed’s clinical finishing in front of goal have been a big part of Air Force Club’s success in this year’s edition of the AFC Cup with his 15 strikes coming from just 10 appearances.