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No regrets for Al Sadd's Mancini

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

No regrets for Al Sadd's Mancini

Jeddah: Al Sadd head coach Roberto Mancini said he did not regret taking off two-goal striker Rafa Mujica in the dying minutes of regular time in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026 tie against Vissel Kobe on Thursday.

The Japanese side battled back to score a late equaliser and went on to eliminate the Qataris from the quarter-finals in a penalty shoot-out.

Q-final: Vissel Kobe edge Al Sadd in thriller

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Q-final: Vissel Kobe edge Al Sadd in thriller

Jeddah: Vissel Kobe booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Al Sadd SC on Thursday after a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.

Substitute Jean Patric scored the winning penalty for Michael Skibbe’s team after Claudinho had fired his attempt high over the bar in the third round of spot-kicks for the Qatari side.

Rafa Mujica had given Roberto Mancini’s outfit a sixth minute lead and the Spaniard restored his side’s advantage in the 61st minute after seeing Yuya Osako level for the Japanese in the 24th minute. Roberto Firmino added a third for Al Sadd in the 65th minute but Yusuke Ideguchi’s strike with 16 minutes remaining gave Kobe hope and Yoshinori Muto’s header in the third minute of stoppage time took the game into an additional 30 minutes.

Kobe will next face either defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC from Saudi Arabia or Malaysia Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, who meet at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Friday.

Preview - Q-final: Al Sadd SC (QAT) v Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Preview - Q-final: Al Sadd SC (QAT) v Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Jeddah: Vissel Kobe head coach Michael Skibbe has said he is ready to welcome back his most experienced players for the J1 League side’s quarter-final clash with Qatar’s Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League Elite Final Jeddah 2026™ on Thursday.

The Japanese outfit have arrived in Saudi Arabia in stellar form and Skibbe is confident the 2020 semi-finalists will be close to full strength when they take to the field to face Roberto Mancini’s team at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.

Al Sadd's Saiss, Vissel's Hirose confident of chances

Wed, 15 Apr, 2026

Al Sadd's Saiss, Vissel's Hirose confident of chances

Jeddah: Roman Saiss will attempt to sleep his way to success at the AFC Champions League Elite Jeddah 2026™ as the Al Sadd SC defender looks to recuperate as well as possible ahead of the Qatari side’s quarter-final clash with Japan’s Vissel Kobe on Thursday.

The ex-Morocco international and his teammates prevailed in a penalty shoot-out at the end of their marathon last 16 clash with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC on Monday and, with only four days to prepare, rest and recovery will be the key if Al Sadd are to progress further.

Jeddah 2026 cast decided

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Jeddah 2026 cast decided

Jeddah: The AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ is set for takeoff following the conclusion of the West Zone's Round of 16 matches on Tuesday.

The quarter-final ties will be played between Thursday and Saturday, with matches to be contested at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-r16-al-hilal-sfc-ksa-3-2-3-4-al-sadd-sc-qat

Mancini hails resilient Al Sadd; Al Hilal's Inzaghi rues elimination

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Mancini hails resilient Al Sadd; Al Hilal's Inzaghi rues elimination

Jeddah: Roberto Mancini was effusive in his praise after Al Sadd SC produced a remarkable performance to advance to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Monday.

The Qatari side came from behind thrice to force extra-time following a 3-3 draw and then saw off the challenge of favourites Al Hilal SFC with a 4-2 win in the penalty shootout.

Mahrez urges Al Ahli to stand and deliver

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Mahrez urges Al Ahli to stand and deliver

Jeddah: Riyad Mahrez has challenged his Al Ahli Saudi FC teammates to continue raising their performance after the defending champions booked their ticket to the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Monday.

Mahrez's sublime free-kick in extra-time settled the nervy tie against Qatar's Al Duhail SC with Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli to face Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia in the quarter-finals on Friday.

R16: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 3 (2) - (4) 3 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

R16: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) 3 (2) - (4) 3 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Sadd SC advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ with a 4-2 win on penalties after their Round of 16 tie against Al Hilal SFC ended 3-3 after extra-time on Monday.

Qatar’s Al Sadd amazingly came from behind three times at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium before completing the job against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the shootout to set up a last eight tie with Japan’s Vissel Kobe on Thursday. 

R16: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 1-0 Al Duhail SC (QAT)

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

R16: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 1-0 Al Duhail SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Riyad Mahrez’s stunning extra-time free-kick took defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ with a 1-0 win over Qatar’s Al Duhail SC at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Monday.

The former Manchester City winger struck with three minutes left in the second period of extra-time after seeing a penalty from teammate Ivan Toney saved by Al Duhail’s Salah Zakaria that looked set to take a gripping last 16 clash into a shoot-out.
 
But Mahrez’s perfect strike from outside the penalty area eventually took Matthias Jaissle’s side through to the quarter-finals, where they will take on Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on Friday.

West Asia Wrap: Al Nassr extend winning streak; Al Sadd, Al Seeb on the verge

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

West Asia Wrap: Al Nassr extend winning streak; Al Sadd, Al Seeb on the verge

Doha: Al Nassr Club achieved a new milestone of winning 13 successive Saudi Pro League matches as they stayed top with a 2-0 win against Al Okhdood on Saturday.

Al Sadd SC are on the verge of retaining their Qatar Stars League crown while Al Ain FC took a firm grip of the UAE Pro League with a crucial win against Shabab Al Ahli.

Al Seeb Club are a point away from the Oman Pro League title while there were also matches in Iraq, Jordan and Syria so join the-AFC.com in our weekly wrap of the West Asia domestic scene.

R16 - Preview: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

R16 - Preview: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Sadd SC must produce their best if they are to stand a chance against Al Hilal SFC when the sides meet in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ on Monday.

Both are former continental champions but Qatar's Al Sadd have only beaten Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia once in their four previous meetings in the knockout stage.