AFC Cup Final: When Central meets West

Tue, 02 Nov, 2021

AFC Cup Final: When Central meets West

Kuala Lumpur: The stage is set for the 2021 AFC Cup Final between Bahrain’s Al Muharraq and FC Nasaf of Uzbekistan on Friday.

The two former winners will square off at Sheikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium, with Al Muharraq looking to add to the title they won in 2008 and Nasaf aiming to win the AFC Cup a decade after being crowned 2011 champions. 

“The biggest moment of my career" - Bošković reflects on Nasaf’s 2011 AFC Cup triumph

Wed, 03 Nov, 2021

“The biggest moment of my career" - Bošković reflects on Nasaf’s 2011 AFC Cup triumph

Karshi: Ten years after FC Nasaf became the first and only club from Uzbekistan to lift a major continental trophy, and with the club one match away from regaining the AFC Cup title they won in 2011, a star of that decade-old triumph will be among those cheering them on. 

At virtually every step of Nasaf’s path to the 2021 AFC Cup Final, there have been references to an achievement from a decade prior. 

Full of promising young players still in the early years of what look increasingly likely to be long and fruitful careers, Ruzikil Berdiev’s side have powered their way to Friday’s decider against Bahrain’s Muharraq Club, and it's one they fully expect to win.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: Kim vying late Korea Republic call-up

Mon, 01 Nov, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: Kim vying late Korea Republic call-up

Seoul: Two-time AFC Champions League-winning defender Kim Young-gwon will be given the opportunity to prove his fitness and could be a late call-up for Korea Republic’s upcoming matches with the United Arab Emirates and Iraq in the AFC Asian Qualifiers -Road to Qatar.

The former Guangzhou Evergrande defender was left out of Paulo Bento’s 25-man squad with an unspecified injury when it was announced on Monday, but the Portuguese coach is still hopeful the Gamba Osaka centre-half can link up with his teammates.

Match officials for AFC Champions League Final confirmed

Mon, 01 Nov, 2021

Match officials for AFC Champions League Final confirmed

Kuala Lumpur: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed from the United Arab Emirates has been selected to referee the eagerly anticipated AFC Champions League 2021 Final between Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic’s FC Pohang Steelers, which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 23, 2021. 

No stranger to the big occasion, Abdulla will be supported by Assistant Referees Mohamed Ahmed Yousef Abdulla Alhammadi and Hasan Mohamed Hasan Abdulla Almahri, who also oversaw the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ Group C tie between France and Peru, which saw the eventual champions edge their South American opponents 1-0 at the Ekaterinburg Arena.
 
The Emirati trio was also selected to officiate the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ Quarter-finals between Japan and Vietnam, which was the first-ever match to implement the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the history of the Continent’s premier men’s national team tournament.
 
Additionally, compatriots Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Alnaqbi and Ahmed Saeed Ahmed Alasal Alrashdi have been appointed as fourth and fifth officials respectively. 
 
Meanwhile, the VAR role has been assigned to Ammar Ali Abdulla Jumaa Aljneibi, also from the UAE, who will be assisted by fellow countryman Omar Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Alali as well as Hanna Hattab from Syria. 

Cast complete for Uzbekistan 2022

Wed, 03 Nov, 2021

Cast complete for Uzbekistan 2022

Kuala Lumpur: The cast for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 was finalised on Tuesday with the conclusion of Groups D and I.

Vietnam emerged Group I winners after a 1-0 win over Myanmar while Saudi Arabia advanced as the second of the best four runners-up following their 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in Group D. 

Thailand (Group J) advanced as the best of the runners-up with Turkmenistan (Group F) third. Tajikistan took the fourth spot by the narrowest of margins, edging Bahrain on yellow cards. 

Teams that had already booked their spot in the 16-team Finals as group winners were  Qatar (Group A), Islamic Republic of Iran (Group B), Iraq (Group C), Kuwait (Group D), United Arab Emirates (Group E), Jordan (Group F), Australia (Group G), defending champions Korea Republic (Group H), Malaysia (Group J) and Japan (Group K) along with hosts Uzbekistan.

Amman Club secure fifth Jordan Women's Football League title

Sat, 30 Oct, 2021

Amman Club secure fifth Jordan Women's Football League title

Amman: Amman Club remained undefeated to clinch their second successive Jordan Women's Football League title after defeating Al Ahli 4-1 at the Polo Stadium on Thursday. 

Khaled Mohammad Nemer’s side charged to a 2-0 lead going into the break before adding two more goals with Al Ahli pulling one back, as Amman Club won the league crown for the second consecutive time, and fifth overall.

Excitement, key matches and the road ahead: Asia reacts to the India 2022 draw

Sat, 30 Oct, 2021

Excitement, key matches and the road ahead: Asia reacts to the India 2022 draw

Kuala Lumpur: Among the thousands of viewers from around Asia and beyond who tuned in for Thursday’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Official Draw were players and coaches eager to discover their path to continental glory.

What they saw was a draw delivering several must-see matches, rekindling classic regional rivalries, and providing room to dream for all 12 teams at Asia’s premier women’s football event.
 
Here at the-AFC.com, we’ve been busy seeking out first-hand reactions from those who will be directly involved in the tournament, with head coaches and star players from all 12 teams sharing their views on the road ahead to India 2022, which is now just 83 days away.