Playoffs: Ones to Watch

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Playoffs: Ones to Watch

Kuala Lumpur: The final cast for the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 is set to be determined on Tuesday as 16 teams from across the continent get set to take part in the playoff round with eight spots in the continental competition up for grabs. 

The tournament is likely to see its most star-studded cast to date with global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema – among many others – having made the move to the Saudi Pro League in recent months. 
 
With defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds and Ronaldo's Al Nassr among the sides competing in the final round of qualifiers, the-AFC.com has selected eight players to look out for.

New-look Al Nassr primed to go the distance

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

New-look Al Nassr primed to go the distance

Riyadh: One of Saudi Arabia’s most successful clubs, Al Nassr are dreaming of a journey to rewrite their continental history starting on Tuesday when they take on Shabab Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League 2023-24™ playoff round.

Despite a rich tradition of success, talents and popularity as well as a golden period in the 1990s, Al Nassr took until 2011 to make their debut in the AFC Champions League.
 
The club had previously reached the final of the 1995 Asian Club Championship and won the now defunct Asian Cup Winners’ Cup and the Asian Super Cup in 1998, becoming Asia’s first representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000.

Remembering Shanghai Port’s star-studded era

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Remembering Shanghai Port’s star-studded era

Kuala Lumpur: The Saudi Pro League has attracted worldwide attention in recent months with global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, among many others, signing for clubs in the Gulf nation as they get set to make their AFC Champions League™ debuts in the coming weeks. 

It’s not so long ago that it was the Chinese Super League drawing similar headlines as stars flocked to the East of the continent, with Guangzhou FC, Beijing FC and Jiangsu FC among those featuring big-name players. 
 
But it was perhaps Shanghai Port who had the most recognisable line-up, with Hulk and Oscar the poster boys of a side that thrilled for several years only to fall just short.
 
As the CSL side prepare to return to the AFC Champions League playoff round, where they face Thailand’s BG Pathum United on Tuesday, the-AFC.com recalls their star-studded era. 

Lee Man's Paulissen relishing Urawa showdown

Thu, 17 Aug, 2023

Lee Man's Paulissen relishing Urawa showdown

Hong Kong: Mitchel Paulissen is hoping his two-goal haul on his debut for Lee Man will give last year’s Hong Kong Premier League runners-up a major boost going into their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 playoff clash with defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds next week.

Dutch midfielder Paulissen claimed a brace while Gil Martins, Everton Camargo and Jose Angel were also on target as Lee Man notched up an impressive 5-1 win over Bali United at Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday to set up the meeting with Urawa on Tuesday.
 
A place in the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League 2023/24 will be at stake when Lee Man travel to Japan and the former Cambuur playmaker will go into the meeting with the J1 League side confident after a goal-scoring start to his career in Hong Kong.

#ACL: Race for Group Stage set to be a sizzler

Thu, 17 Aug, 2023

#ACL: Race for Group Stage set to be a sizzler

Kuala Lumpur: The cast for the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Playoffs was finalised on Wednesday following the conclusion of the preliminary stage.

Hong Kong's Lee Man FC were the final team to book their spot following a 5-1 win over Indonesia's Bali United.

Liverpool sign Japan midfielder Endo from Stuttgart

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Liverpool sign Japan midfielder Endo from Stuttgart

London: Liverpool have signed Japan midfielder Wataru Endo on a long-term contract, subject to international clearance and work permit application, the Premier League club announced on Friday.

No fee was disclosed but British media outlets, including Sky Sports, valued the 30-year-old's move from Bundesliga club Stuttgart at £19 million.

Bounou moves to Al Hilal from Sevilla

Fri, 18 Aug, 2023

Bounou moves to Al Hilal from Sevilla

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC have continued to bolster their squad with the capture of Yassine Bounou from Spanish club Sevilla to add to the earlier signings of Neymar, Ruben Neves, Sergey-Milinkoviv Savic and Malcom.

Bounou, one of the stars in Morocco's incredible semi-final run at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, joins Al Hilal on a contract until 2026, and the lanky goalkeeper will wear number 37 for his new club.