It will be the fourth occasion when clubs from the West Asia and Central Asia regions lock horns in the showpiece event. Ahead of the eagerly anticipated encounter, the-AFC.com winds back the clock to the three previous meetings. 

After seven successive all West Asia finals, Nasaf broke the trend in 2011 by becoming the first side from outside the region to reach the main event. With the game played on home soil in Karshi, the formidable force of 2009 champions Kuwait SC stood in their way of becoming the first Uzbek side to taste continental glory. 

Nasaf were appearing in the competition for just the second time having been eliminated in the Round of 16 the previous year, while Kuwait were looking to join Jordan's Al Faisaly as the only teams to win the competition twice. 

The Uzbeks had breezed through the group stage, winning six from six, before overcoming Jordanian duo Al Faisaly and Al Wehdat, as well as Thailand’s Chonburi FC, in the knockout rounds. The holders, meanwhile, saw off domestic rivals Qadsia SC, Muangthong United of Thailand and Iraq’s Erbil to book their ticket to the final. 

The stage was set for the grand finale as more than 15,000 fans turned up at Markaziy Stadium and, following a goalless first half, they were brought to their feet in the 62nd minute when Ilkhom Shomurodov gave Nasaf the lead. 

Latvian Andrejs Pereplotkins doubled the home side’s advantage three minutes later with a brilliant improvised flick that will live long in the memory and, although Boris Kabi pulled one back shortly after, the Kuwaitis were unable to find an equaliser as Nasaf became the first team from outside of West Asia to win the AFC Cup.

FC Istiklol 0-1 Air Force Club (2017 AFC Cup Final)
Hisor Central Stadium, November 4, 2017

After storming to AFC Cup glory in their maiden appearance in 2016, Iraqi powerhouse Air Force Club were back in the final the following year, and were up against an FC Istiklol side aiming to make up for the disappointment of losing the 2015 final.  

Having navigated the group stage successfully in an edition that featured the newly introduced zonal format, the holders went on to be crowned West Asia Zonal champions by edging Syria’s Al Wahda following an injury-time goal in the West Asia Zonal final. 

The Tajik champions, meanwhile, won the Central Asia Zone before easing past Ceres Negros of the Philippines and then proving too good for India’s Bengaluru FC to set up a final on home soil at Hisor Central Stadium.

Some 20,000 fans showed up hoping to see the home side make history by becoming Tajikistan’s first continental champions, although it was Air Force Club who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the early stages, striking the post in the first half. 

Istiklol’s top scorer Manuchehr Dzhalilov spurned an excellent opportunity to put his side in front as the interval approached before the home side’s goalkeeper Nikola Stosic pulled off an excellent save to deny the 2016 Golden Boot winner Hammadi Ahmad from the spot after the restart.

But the visitors did then break the deadlock midway through the half, Emad Mohsin firing home from 12 yards with the goal that would seal glory and see Air Force Club become the third team to successfully defend their AFC Cup title.

A year later and Air Force Club were aiming to create history by winning a record third successive title and, yet again, they faced opposition from Central Asia with Altyn Asyr becoming Turkmenistan’s first representative in the final. 

The game also had extra significance for Air Force Club as it was the first time they had played a final on home soil, and almost 25,000 spectators were there to witness the occasion at Basra Sports City. 

Air Force Club made tough work of their group stage but advanced as the best-placed runners-up before finding their groove in the knockout rounds, defeating Lebanon’s Al Ahed and Jordan’s Al Jazeera to claim the title of West Asia Zonal champions. 

Altyn Asyr, meanwhile, topped a group comprising two-time runners-up Istiklol to become Central Asia Zonal champions before ousting Bengaluru and edging past DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC.

With both sides unbeaten, something had to give in Basra and, inspired by the home support, Ahmad opened the scoring after a defensive error midway through the first half and the holders never looked back. 

Ibrahim Bayesh’s near-post header doubled the advantage in the 57th minute before Selim Nurmyradov fired a spot-kick well over as the visitors spurned an excellent opportunity to get back in the match as Air Force Club secured a hat-trick of titles.