AFC National Coaches Online Session marks one-month countdown to #AsianCup2023

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

AFC National Coaches Online Session marks one-month countdown to #AsianCup2023

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s countdown to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ hit a significant milestone when it conducted the AFC National Coaches Online Session on Tuesday with one month to kick-off in Asia’s crown jewel.

Attended by the head coaches, assistant coaches and performance analysts of the participating teams as well as experts from FIFA, the session aimed to brief all 24 sides on the myriad technical aspects that will be the focal point of the AFC’s Technical Study Group during the Continental showpiece. 

Player to Watch: Musa Al Taamari (Jordan)

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Musa Al Taamari (Jordan)

Kuala Lumpur: Five years ago, Musa Al Taamari was making his first steps in the AFC Cup™ on loan at Jordanian club Al Jazira. Today he has already broken all sorts of records to stake a claim for being the greatest player his country has ever produced.

As Jordan dream of surpassing their best-ever AFC Asian Cup™ result - quarter-final finishes in 2004 and 2011 - the hopes of the nation rest on the shoulders of their 26-year-old mercurial winger Al Taamari, a man nicknamed by many as ‘The Jordanian Messi’.
 
The unlimited ambition of the Amman-born player has seen him climb new heights season after season since making his senior debut for Shabab Al Ordon and Jordan in 2016. His six AFC Cup goals at Al Jazeera helped the Jordanian side reach the West Zonal Final for the first time in their history in the 2018 edition, and soon after he was on his way to start a European adventure that has seen him play in three countries so far.

Player to Watch: Takefusa Kubo (Japan)

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Takefusa Kubo (Japan)

Kuala Lumpur: Takefusa Kubo burst onto the global football scene with bags of potential and the 22-year-old Japanese winger has been truly delivering on that promise in recent times. 

After guiding Real Sociedad to a fourth-place finish in La Liga and helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League during his debut campaign, Kubo has maintained his fine form for the Basque club by weighing in with goals and assists in the Spanish top flight so far this season. 
 
Kubo's impressive numbers will be music to the ears of Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu as the Samurai Blue look to go one step further at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ after finishing as runners-up at the 2019 edition.

Radulovic returns as Lebanon head coach

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Radulovic returns as Lebanon head coach

Beirut: Miodrag Radulovic, who was head coach between 2015 and 2019, is back in charge of Lebanon. 

The Lebanon Football Association said the 56-year-old former Montenegro head coach replaces Nikola Jurcevic, who stepped down on Saturday after two months in the job. 

Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran)

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran)

Kuala Lumpur: Strikers from the Islamic Republic of Iran have long had to live in the shadow of those who have gone before them, such is the depth of historic talent to have led the line for Team Melli.

But over the last eight years Mehdi Taremi has established himself as a star in his own right for both club and country, joining the greats of Iranian football.

Jurcevic steps down as Lebanon head coach

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Jurcevic steps down as Lebanon head coach

Beirut: Nikola Jurcevic has stepped down as the Lebanon national team head coach “by mutual consent”, the Lebanese Football Federation said on Saturday.

The Croatian was appointed head coach two months ago with the task of taking Lebanon to the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023, with the West Asian side to open their Group A campaign against the host nation on January 12.

Player to Watch: Sunil Chhetri (India)

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Sunil Chhetri (India)

Kuala Lumpur: Even at the grand old age of 39, India captain Sunil Chhetri continues to shoulder the hopes of an entire nation as he remains the talismanic figure of the Indian national team.

The evergreen Bengaluru FC forward first appeared in the AFC Asian Cup™ back in 2011, which was also held in Qatar, and he returns to the Gulf country for his third continental appearance.
 
India’s most capped player and the fourth highest men’s international goalscorer of all time has won numerous accolades for club and country and is once again looking to galvanise his beloved nation at the upcoming quadrennial showpiece.