Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Ali Daei believes that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan are the most likely contenders to reach the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 final, with the continental competition now less than four weeks away.
The Iranian legend is the tournament’s record goalscorer, having found the back of the net 14 times over three editions, yet the former striker never lifted the trophy for his country, whose wait for the title stretches back to 1976.
But on the back of a strong 2018 FIFA World Cup and with head coach Carlos Queiroz having been in charge for almost eight years, Daei thinks the time could be now for Team Melli, although it is the side from East Asia he considers as favourites.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With less than a month to go until the 2019 AFC Asian Cup gets underway, the-AFC.com roams social media to see what the continent's stars have been up to.
New deals, team and individual honours and fantasy football, all feature in the second instalment of our weekly AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 social wrap.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As the 24 teams battle for the Continental crown in January, goals will be the most valuable currency. The-AFC.com kicks off our weekly Asian Cup UAE 2019 series '10 of the Best' with a look at 10 target men whose nations will rely on to deliver the goals.
UAE's Ali Mabkhout nipped the top scorer award in 2015 with five goals. But with the tournament expanded from 16 to 24 teams this time around, the goals race is set to be even more heated. Here are a selection of leading candidates who could take the mantle from the Emirati this January.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: As the eyes of the continent turn to the UAE in January, we explore the country through the eyes of expats from across Asia as the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 hits the 30 days to go mark.
Adib Nammour arrived to the UAE from Syria 14 years ago, and has since made it his permanent home. In the first episode of this series by Asian expats showcasing their adopted home, we discover Abu Dhabi in Nammour's own words.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Syria lured Bernd Stange out of retirement to take the helm of their squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, but the veteran German coach is confident the side that narrowly missed out on a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia can succeed no matter who is sitting on the sidelines.
Stange’s team have been drawn to face Australia – who ended Syria’s hopes of a debut World Cup appearance – Palestine and Jordan in Group B of the 2019 edition of the Continental showpiece, with the Syrians kicking off their campaign against the Palestinians in Sharjah on January 6.
And as they seek to build on the performances that took the country into the play-off phase of qualifying for Russia 2018, Stange stresses the desire to succeed comes from within the playing group.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Despite disappointing results from their recent training camp in Australia, Uzbekistan coach Hector Cuper still believes the White Wolves can go all the way at AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019
On paper, a 4-0 defeat against Korea Republic and a goalless draw with Lebanon last month in Australia does not look the best preparation for Uzbekistan's AFC Asian Cup next campaign.
However, coach Cuper insists there are still positives to be taken from the training camp and remains convinced the Central Asians have what it takes to challenge the best the continent has to offer.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: After a stellar 2018 AFC Cup campaign, Musa Al Taamari made the switch to Cyprus. In January, he could be Jordan's only Europe-based player.
Having reached the quarter-finals in two of their previous three AFC Asian Cup campaigns, Jordan have big hopes for the 2019 edition, and 20-year-old Al Taamari is the poster boy for the nation's ambitions.
Nationality: Jordan Date of birth: 10/06/1997 Position: Winger Current club: APOEL (Cyprus) Previous clubs: Al Jazeera, Shabab Al Ordon (both in Jordan)