Buriram’s Dougall counting on experience; Shabab’s Abbas warns against errors

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Buriram’s Dougall counting on experience; Shabab’s Abbas warns against errors

Jeddah: Kenneth Dougall and Walid Abbas are equally determined to put their best foot forward when Buriram United and Shabab Al Ahli meet in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ quarter-finals on Saturday.

Dougall was part of the Buriram side that reached the same stage of the competition last season before bowing out by eventual champions Al Ahli Saudi FC of Saudi Arabia while Abbas will be appearing at this stage for the first time.

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Preview - Q-final: Buriram United (THA) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Preview - Q-final: Buriram United (THA) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Jeddah: Belief and focus will be the key ingredients when Thailand’s Buriram United and Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates face off in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ quarter-finals on Saturday.

Buriram head coach Mark Jackson is demanding confidence from his Buriram side while his Shabab Al Ahli counterpart Paulo Sousa expects full commitment after the UAE side advanced to this stage with victory against Tractor FC of Islamic Republic of Iran in the Round of 16.

Skibbe hails Vissel Kobe's determination

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Skibbe hails Vissel Kobe's determination

Jeddah: Vissel Kobe head coach Michael Skibbe praised his team’s never-say-die attitude as the former J1 League champions booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Thursday with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Al Sadd SC.

Skibbe’s side needed a last-gasp equaliser from Yoshinori Muto to secure a 3-3 draw with the Qatari side and take the game into extra-time, where goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa made a string of vital saves to set up the shoot-out that Kobe edged.

No regrets for Al Sadd's Mancini

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

No regrets for Al Sadd's Mancini

Jeddah: Al Sadd head coach Roberto Mancini said he did not regret taking off two-goal striker Rafa Mujica in the dying minutes of regular time in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026 tie against Vissel Kobe on Thursday.

The Japanese side battled back to score a late equaliser and went on to eliminate the Qataris from the quarter-finals in a penalty shoot-out.

Clinical Svay Rieng please McConkey

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Clinical Svay Rieng please McConkey

Manila: Matt McConkey was effusive in his praise of Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC after the Cambodian side secured a second successive final appearance in the AFC Challenge League™ on Thursday.

The Northern Ireland tactician, while admitting he was not satisfied with his team’s overall performance, applauded their effectiveness in front of goal as a Saret Kyra header and a brace from Kwame Peprah sealed a 3-0 win on the day and 4-1 on aggregate against Manila Digger of the Philippines. 

Preview - Final: Japan v DPR Korea

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Preview - Final: Japan v DPR Korea

Pathum Thani: Japan and DPR Korea are set for an epic encounter in the final of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ on Saturday.

The sides go into the continental decider with perfect records, brushing aside the competition to set up a repeat of the 2024 final in Uzbekistan, where DPR Korea dashed Japan’s hope of four consecutive titles with a 2-1 win.