Hašek announced as Lebanon head coach

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Hašek announced as Lebanon head coach

Beirut: Lebanon Football Association announced on Thursday that Czech coach Ivan Hašek will take charge of the Lebanon national team for the Final Round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The 57-year-old Hašek, who is highly experienced in Asian football having coached in Japan, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, replaces Jamal Taha who steered Lebanon through the second round of the Asian Qualifiers that concluded last month.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Tokyo: A global powerhouse of the women’s game in the first half of the 2010s, Japan’s rebuild has often been focused on performing at their home Olympics in Tokyo. Now it’s time to deliver.

In the third of our Asian team previews ahead of the football action at this summer’s games, the-AFC.com runs the rule over Asian champions Japan, whose squad combines big-stage experience with outstanding young talent.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Tokyo: Every one of the 11,000 athletes converging on Japan for these most unique of Olympic Games will have overcome some form of adversity, but few will have travelled a road to Tokyo as challenging as the one navigated by the Chinese women’s national team.

In the second of our pre-Olympic previews, join the-AFC.com as we run the rule over Jia Xiuquan’s side who, having performed minor miracles to reach Tokyo 2020, will be determined to challenge a pair of heavyweights in Group G.

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's new era faces first major test under Gustavsson

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's new era faces first major test under Gustavsson

Tokyo: A year later than planned, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are finally within sight, with seven Asian football teams chasing gold across the men’s and women’s competitions.

Before the football action begins on July 21, the-AFC.com is here to tell all you need to know about the continent’s contenders, including their road to Tokyo, their star players and what to expect from their opponents.

The first team in our series is Asia’s highest ranked women’s national team, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts, Australia, who will be eager to begin a new era in style under head coach Tony Gustavsson.

It’s My Game - Rocky: India 2022 will inspire the nation 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

It’s My Game - Rocky: India 2022 will inspire the nation 

Kuala Lumpur: In the latest Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) ‘It’s My Game’ episode, Maymol Rocky, the first female head coach of the Indian women’s national team, highlights her expectations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 and how it will transform the landscape of women’s football in the country.

Like most women footballers in her country, Rocky, an AFC Coach Education Panel member, started her sports career in athletics. “Football was my second sport but in Goa, if you could run, then you can play football,” said Rocky.

2021 AFC Champions League (East): Group Stage in Numbers

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League (East): Group Stage in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: After three weeks of non-stop action, the 2021 AFC Champions League (East) group stage drew to a close on Sunday as eight teams advanced to the knockout rounds and 12 were eliminated. 

With the continental competition now taking a break until September's Round of 16, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the numbers that stood out from the groups in Bangkok, Buriram, Pathum Thani and Tashkent.

Sanchez seeks improvement after Gold Cup stalemate with Panama

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Sanchez seeks improvement after Gold Cup stalemate with Panama

Houston: Head coach Felix Sanchez says there is room for improvement following Qatar’s 3-3 draw against Panama in Group D of the 2021 Gold Cup at the BBVA Stadium on Tuesday.

Qatar, who are participating in the tournament on an invitation basis, led three times but were unable to stop the Panamanians from fighting back, eventually settling for a point.