Groups A to C will feature 12 sides from six countries, including three former winners, as the contenders from the West Zone aim to continue the region’s dominance in the competition.

Group A

Jordan’s Al Jazeera couldn’t have picked a tougher return to continental action on Monday as they face defending champions Air Force Club, who have twice entered the tournament and won it on each occasion.

The Baghdad side are aiming to win an unprecedented third title in a row, while Al Jazeera will be looking to at least match their Round of 16 appearance in 2015.

Also in Group A, Bahraini champions Malkiya make their tournament bow when they welcome Oman’s Al Suwaiq to Isa Town on Monday.

The visitors have appeared in the competition four times, with their best performance to date coming in 2012 when they reached the last 16.

Air Force Club (IRQ) v Al Jazeera (JOR)

Venue: Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Al Wakrah

Kick-off: February 12, 18:00 (UTC+3)

Malkiya (BHR) v Al Suwaiq (OMA)

Venue: Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town

Kick-off: February 12, 18:15 (UTC+3)

The side are under new management in ex-Iraq coach Radhi Shanaishel, appointed to replace Syrian Hossam El Sayed after a stuttering start to the 2017-18 campaign. 

The Iraqi champions are third in the league but are 11 points off the two front runners this season; Al Shorta and Al Zawraa. 

Just 22 days after winning the AFC Cup, coach El Sayed handed in his resignation after his second spell at the club.

What was impressive about their victory was the way they took the game to Tampines Rovers, playing on the front foot and controlling the match.

Olaha in control

One of the most impressive performances for Song Lam Nghe An was that of Nigerian Michael Olaha.

The 20-year-old was a constant threat throughout the match, with his size and mobility proving difficult for the Tampines Rovers defence to handle, taking the game on and linking up well with his fellow attacking players in Ho Phuc Tinh and Ho Khac Ngoc.

Played in foggy conditions at the My Dinh Stadium in the Vietnamese capital, it took until the 73rd minute for the home side to break the deadlock despite dominating proceedings up until that point.

Nguyen Xuan Thanh’s dangerous cross into the box was put out for a corner, and after taking it short, Nguyen Xuan Thanh’s left-footed cross floated to the back post where Omar Faye was left unmarked to smash a header past Global Cebu custodian Patrick Deyto.

Deyto had twice earlier denied Omar Faye with two clutch saves, including one in the first half from point blank when the Senegalese striker attempted to poke the ball home from a corner, with Deyto also doing well to clean up the resulting scramble in the box.

The 27-year-old shot-stopper was also called into action on the stroke of half time to deny Tran Dinh Dong’s venomous effort from the edge of the box. Despite his best efforts, however, it was the home side that got their campaign off to a winning start.

FLC Thanh Hoa face a trip to Myanmar to face Yangon United in their next match, while Global Cebu are at home against Indonesia’s Bali United.

Last season, the Seagulls were off the pace in the Iraqi League title race, but they did manage to win a record 15th Iraq Cup. 

Coach Essam Hamad, who led them to the 1-0 cup final victory over Naft Al Wasat, was replaced 24 hours later with Ayoub Odisho - a man who has won two Iraqi league titles at Al Talaba and Air Force Club.

Out with the old boss went key first team players, Iraq captain and striker Alaa Abdul-Zahra, defender Karrar Mohammed and goalkeeper Mohammed Kasid, but the club’s board kept busy in the pre-season, signing 13 new players over the summer to bolster the squad ahead of a second consecutive AFC Cup campaign.

Winners of the AFC Cup in 2015 after a 1-0 victory over FC Istiklol saw them become the first ASEAN club team to be crowned continental champions, Johor reached the semi-finals the following year as they established themselves as one of the most feared teams in the competition.

Johor did not fare as well in last year’s tournament but, having claimed the Malaysia Super League title for the fourth successive season, the side return to the AFC Cup once more and open their campaign with a clash against Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta in Group H on Wednesday.

Photos: Bali United