The Playoffs and beyond

Sat, 19 Aug, 2023

The Playoffs and beyond

Kuala Lumpur: The final eight places up for grabs in the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 will be confirmed on Tuesday after the conclusion of eight playoff matches across the continent.

For some sides, qualification to the group stage would rank as a historic achievement, while others would immediately set their sights on going deep into the tournament, and perhaps even ending the campaign as kings of Asia.
 
It’s a long journey from the playoffs to the final – the-AFC.com has looked back through the archives to find out which teams have delivered standout performances after clearing the final qualification hurdle.

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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. 

#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.