One of the two clubs representing the central Bahraini town of Riffa, East Riffa have for years looked at their rivals Riffa SC as they played in the 2004 AFC Champions League then made several appearances in the AFC Cup over the past decade, but now it is finally time for the younger half of Riffa, established in 1958, five years after Riffa SC, to represent the nation on the continental front.

While they are based in Riffa to the southeast of the Bahraini capital, East Riffa usually play their home games in the capital at the 24,000-seater Bahrain National Stadium or at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium that can seat 20,000 fans.

Coached by former Romanian midfielder Florin Motroc since September 2020, the club had been more of a mid-table side over the preceding few seasons until his arrival rejuvenated their fortunes, with a second place finish behind Riffa SC in the 2020-21 season resulting in their first ever qualification to the AFC Cup.

The trio of Mohamed Al Romaihi, Joao Luiz and Polish veteran Lukasz Gikiewicz combined to score 20 goals during that campaign. The latter two have since left the club though, with 33-year-old Brazilian Luiz Correa taking over playmaking and goalscoring duties, chipping in with three goals so far this season.

Nicknamed locally as “The Emperor”, the side hails from the Omani town of Al Seeb just west of the capital Muscat, with home games being played at Al Seeb Stadium, a 14,000 seater ground in the middle of the town.

Former coach Bruno Pereira led the club to their first ever league title in the 2019-20 season  and succeeded in defending the title in 2020-21, which paved the way for their participation in the 2022 AFC Cup. Croatian coach Boris Bunjak will lead them into the competition having signed for the club late in December.

Abdulaziz Al Miqbali leads Al Seeb’s scoring charts in the current season with five goals to his name so far, with promising Omani international and former Sepahan FC forward Muhsen Al Ghassani also adding goals to the side that is still in with a chance to keep its league title for a third successive time with one match left before the end of the league season in Oman. 

The spiritual successor of The Cong FC, a dominant force of Vietnamese football in the 1990s, Viettel FC worked their way up from the amateur leagues from 2010 right up till their present day status as one of Vietnam’s current powerhouses.

Viettel play at one of Vietnam’s most famous footballing arenas, Hang Day Stadium, a multi-purpose venue that holds 22,500 fans. Hang Day is also the home of Hanoi FC, Viettel’s city rivals, who reached the AFC Cup Inter-Zone Final in 2019.

Truong Viet Hoang has been at the helm since November 2019 and his reign has been highly successful thus far, leading Viettel to the 2020 V-League championship and a maiden AFC Champions League campaign last year. Due to the league’s abandonment of the 2021 season as a result of Covid-19, Viettel’s second place position saw them qualify for their first AFC Cup campaign.

Viettel have several representatives in the Vietnam national squad including goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh and defenders Bui Tien Dung, but the one to keep an eye out on is midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc. Recently turned 24, Hoang Duc excelled at the latest AFF Championship featuring on many pundits’ team of the tournament with his tidy distribution and high workrate.  

City slickers Kuala Lumpur City FC hail from the Malaysian capital and have once again risen to prominence after a successful period in the late 1980s and 1990s. Formed in 1974 as Federal Territory, the club play their home ties at the 18,000 seater Kuala Lumpur Stadium.

Veteran coach Bojan Hodak was appointed in January 2021 and helped the City Boys end a 32-year drought to lift the Malaysia Cup, defeating hot favourites Johor Darul Ta’zim in the competition climax. The victory saw Hodak and his charges qualify to play in this year’s AFC Cup for the first time.

Australian defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco was an ever-present for Hodak’s men in the 2021 campaign and lynchpin in a backline that was among the best in the league. Behind Gallifuoco is Filipino international goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza who shone at the recent AFF Championship, while Brazilian forward Paulo Josue led the team in 2021 in goals and assists.

A founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009, Hantharwady United are based in the southern central city of Bago, north of Yangon, and host their domestic fixtures at Grand Royal Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium that holds 7,000 fans.

Coached by Myo Min Tun, who previously helmed Yangon United, Hantharwady United led the way throughout much of the 2020 domestic campaign only to be pipped at the post by Shan United. Nevertheless, their runners-up finish was good enough to take the side, belatedly, into a maiden AFC Cup campaign after the 2021 edition’s ASEAN Zone was cancelled.

Hantharwady United boast a pair of Myanmar internationals in midfielder Lar Din Maw Yar and defender Win Moe Kyaw, while Nigerian forward Francis Emeka was the main source of goals during the run to second place. Goalkeeper Pyae Phyo Aung, signed from Southern Myanmar, will help further strengthen a backline that conceded just 16 times in 18 matches.