Urawa's Nishikawa excited for AFC Champions League™ return

Wed, 13 Apr, 2022

Urawa's Nishikawa excited for AFC Champions League™ return

Saitama: Six campaigns, two finals and one title, Urawa Red Diamonds’ goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa is a veteran of the AFC Champions League™ but his excitement at returning to the continental competition remains undimmed ahead of the 2022 edition when the East Zone kicks off on Friday.

Now 35 years old, and one of the few remaining members of the championship-winning 2017 side, the custodian remains a key member of the Urawa side that ensured their return to the AFC Champions League after a two-year absence by winning last season’s Emperor’s Cup.

“The AFC Champions League is not an easy competition to qualify for, so we’re really happy to return. Becoming Asia’s number one team [in 2017] was like a dream and the chance has come again,” Nishikawa told the-AFC.com.

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AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST) – Ones To Watch

Wed, 13 Apr, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST) – Ones To Watch

Kuala Lumpur: Over the years, the AFC Champions League™ has attracted some iconic names, both from across Asia and beyond, and the latest edition of the competition is no different.

With the start of the group stage action in the East drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com takes a look at some of the star players that will be on show in the hubs in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Andres Iniesta is the headline-maker and even at 37 years old the Barcelona and Spain legend has lost none of his technical artistry and influence on the field. Elsewhere, Chanathip Songkrasin, Mathew Leckie, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Jun Amano and Dejan Damjanovic are also set to play keys roles for their respective sides.

Kitchee’s record-breaker Damjanovic targeting more goals and knockout round qualification

Thu, 07 Apr, 2022

Kitchee’s record-breaker Damjanovic targeting more goals and knockout round qualification

Hong Kong: Dejan Damjanovic has set his sight on further extending his all-time AFC Champions League™ scoring record and firing Kitchee SC into the knockout rounds for the first time as the Montenegrin prepares for his ninth season in the continental competition.

Having netted for FC Seoul, Beijing FC and Suwon Samsung Bluewings over the years, Damjanovic returned for the first time since 2018 last year and scored in four successive games to break Lee Dong-gook’s 37-goal haul and stand alone as the tournament’s leading marksman.

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST) – The Host Cities

Tue, 12 Apr, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST) – The Host Cities

Kuala Lumpur: Between April 15 and May 1, four cities across three countries in Southeast Asia will be the venues for the East Zone of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST) group stage with Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam hosting the 19 teams.

In an effort to ensure continuity of Asia’s premier club competition despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the AFC held the 2020 edition in a centralised format in Qatar, with the cities of Doha and Al Wakrah hosting the games.

Last year, hosting rights for group stage matches were divided between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and India for the West, while Uzbekistan and Thailand hosted games in the East. 

Ahead of kick-off of the 2022 (East) edition, the-AFC.com profiles the four host cities.

Group by Group Preview: AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST)

Mon, 11 Apr, 2022

Group by Group Preview: AFC Champions League™ 2022 (EAST)

Kuala Lumpur: Following fast on the footsteps of the West Zone, the AFC Champions League™ 2022 is set to kick off on April 15, with the five groups spread across Southeast Asia and the action taking place in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

From venues to past encounters, to the players set to make an impact in 2022, the-AFC.com profiles each of the groups.