Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Baghdad: Former Iraq captain Abbas Obaid believes the 2007 champions are in for a tough test at AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 and will need to make the most of their 20-day training camp in Qatar.
"The Iraqi league is now on a break for 40 days, 20 days for the training camp in Qatar and 20 days for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 - this is a vital time for the national side," says the man who skippered the side at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup in Lebanon.
"Because our domestic league is not at its strongest level in recent times, I feel the players may find it difficult to raise their game to match the standard of the Asian Cup."
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Five years on from helping Iraq win the AFC U22 Championship in Oman, midfielder Bashar Resan has developed into a key player for the Lions of Mesopotamia as they look to impress in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Such is the talent of Bashar Resan, that the now Persepolis midfielder first represented the senior side at his hometown club Air Force Club seven years ago as a 14-year-old.
Resan’s career has already taken him to bigger places, most recently competing in the 2018 AFC Champions League final. Next challenge for the 21-year-old is making his AFC Asian Cup debut with Iraq in January, where he is set to be one of the key players in the Lions of Mesopotamia setup.
Nationality: Iraq Date of birth: 22/12/1996 Position: Midfielder Current club: Persepolis (IR Iran) Previous clubs: Air Force Club (Iraq)
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: East Asian nations had little success at the AFC Asian Cup in the aftermath of Korea Republic’s back-to-back title wins in the competition’s formative years. However, after a period of west Asian dominance, the tide was about to turn as Japan emerged as the continent’s dominant force.
Japan’s AFC Asian Cup win on home soil in 1992 might have come as a surprise, but on hindsight it proved to be a precursor of a period of superiority whose roots lay in the advent of professionalism in the east Asian nation and a remarkable attention to detail.
Until the early 1990s the Samurai Blue had been a minor player at the AFC Asian Cup but, with the arrival of the J.League in 1993 and the dawn of an era that brought with it rapid development at all levels, Japanese football was on the rise.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As teams stepped up their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 with the latest round of friendlies, the-AFC.com roams social media to see what the continent's stars have been up to.
Proud moments, boots drama, milestone celebrations, festive mood and medical updates all feature in our inaugural selection of posts for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 social wrap.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As we edge closer to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in January, we asked current and past players and coaches for their predictions for the tournament.
Having represented Korea Republic in two AFC Asian Cup tournaments and finishing third on both occasions - in 2007 and 2011 - veteran midfielder Yeom Ki-hun believes it is time for the Taeguk Warriors to end their six-decade-long wait for continental glory.
The-AFC.com asked the Suwon Samsung Bluewings man his predictions for the upcoming edition in the United Arab Emirates and Yeom gives his reasons why he thinks Korea Republic will lift the trophy come February 1.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 will be as much about the head coaches as they will be about the Continent's best players.
With just 40 days to go before the Continental showpiece kicks off with hosts United Arab Emirates taking on Bahrain in the tournament opener, the-AFC.com takes a look at the 24 tacticians who will lead the Continent’s best in the biggest and best ever AFC Asian Cup.
There will be new faces in charge as several teams, including three of the five Asian teams who featured in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, will have new head coaches.
We take a look at the head coaches of Groups A, B and C.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As the cast of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 head into the last 40 days before the Continental showpiece kicks off on January 5, the head coaches are laying their final plans.
There will be a mix of new and old as several head coaches have been with their teams for years while some will be leading their sides into a major competition for the first time.
We take a look at the head coaches of Groups D, E and F.