Belmadi led the Doha-based club to three domestic titles - Qatar Stars League, Qatar Cup and Emir Cup - in 2018, becoming the first Qatari club to achieve the feat, as well as securing a spot in the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals courtesy of eight successive victories.

Al Duhail, who lifted the Emir Cup on Saturday to add to the Qatar Stars League and Qatar Cup titles won earlier, have carried their domestic form onto the continental stage.

They are on the brink of an AFC Champions League record, having scored eight victories en route to qualifying for the quarter-finals and will surely be the team to avoid in Wednesday's draw in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The hosts wasted no time in taking full control and were rewarded with a goal inside 11 minutes when Nam Tae-hee advanced down the left and sent a low ball across the goalmouth that was inadvertently converted by defender Mohamed Ahmad past his own goalkeeper.

Al Duhail doubled their tally at the half-hour mark through Youssef El Arabi who stabbed in Ismail Mohammad’s powerful cross from the right flank.

Very little changed after the break as the Qataris continued to attack in numbers and soon found the net for a third time. El Arabi sent defender Sultan Al Brake through on goal and the latter attempted to lob goalkeeper Khalid Eisa who was able to get his fingertips on the ball before it fell for Mohammad who tapped into the empty net in the 54th minute.

Al Duhail fans breathed a sigh of relief as the final whistle at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Tashkent confirmed a hard-fought win for their side. Two goals from Youssef El Arabi had brought them from the brink of a first defeat in the competition to seal their passage into the 2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage with two matches to spare.

The result also meant Djamel Belmadi's men can join an elite group of clubs to win all six AFC Champions League group stage matches in a season, should they achieve victories against Zobahan and Al Wahda in April.

Ahead of Wednesday’s draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur (4pm local time), join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the final eight challengers.

From the West Zone, we have Qatar’s Al Sadd and Al Duhail and Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal FC and Persepolis.

Japan’s Kashima Antlers, Tianjin Quanjian of China PR and Korea Republic clubs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Suwon Samsung Bluewings are the four teams who will be in the East Zone pots.

August 26

Islamic Republic of Iran international Saman Ghoddos has signed a five-year contract with French side Amiens SC.

The Swedish-born Iranian began his professional career in Sweden's Division 1 Limhamn Bunkeflo in 2011 and Trelleborg in 2013 before progressing to the Superettan a year later with Syrianska.

“The AFC Quarterly is the confederation's latest effort to reach out to the millions of passionate fans of Asian football and put on splendid display the game’s glorious achievements,” said AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong. “The biggest endeavour of this magazine is to make household names of our players and put the spotlight on our many competitions, which produce countless moments of top-notch football entertainment.”AFC Player of the Year Lee Keun-ho from Korea Republic is the cover star of the inaugural edition, which also features interviews with 2007 AFC Asian Cup winning striker Younus Mahmood, Olympic bronze medal-winning coach Hong Myung-bo, and Uzbek legend Mirdjalal Kasimov.