Preview: FC Bunyodkor, Shahrdari Sirjan set for showdown

Mon, 08 Nov, 2021

Preview: FC Bunyodkor, Shahrdari Sirjan set for showdown

Aqaba: Uzbekistan’s FC Bunyodkor and Shahrdari Sirjan of Islamic Republic of Iran are all set for the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 opener at the Aqaba Development Corporate Stadium, Jordan on Sunday.

Head coach Elmira Gulamova is confident of Bunyodkor’s chances of winning the title, while her opposite number Maryam Jahan Nejati believes Shahrdari Sirjan have what it takes to succeed. 

AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021: All you need to know about the contenders

Sun, 07 Nov, 2021

AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021: All you need to know about the contenders

Amman: Four teams will battle for glory when they square off in the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 at the Aqaba Development Corporate Stadium, Jordan. 

Having achieved supremacy domestically, Uzbekistan’s FC Bunyodkor, Gokulam Kerala FC of India, Jordan’s Amman Club and Shahrdari Sirjan of Islamic Republic of Iran will be vying to be crowned Asia’s best in the second edition of the FIFA/AFC Pilot Tournament.

Join the-AFC.com as we delve into the four participating teams.

‘Secret’ pre-match video was key to AFC Cup final triumph, says Muharraq Club’s Al Sadoon

Sun, 07 Nov, 2021

‘Secret’ pre-match video was key to AFC Cup final triumph, says Muharraq Club’s Al Sadoon

Arad: Muharraq head coach Isa Al Sadoon believed the mental state of his players was the difference as the Bahraini side cruised to a 3-0 victory over FC Nasaf in the 2021 AFC Cup final to win their second title in the competition on Friday.

Summer recruit Mahmoud Al Mardi curled an effort from distance to open the scoring for Muharraq after just three minutes in front of a large crowd at Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium. The Bahrainis kept their concentration to see off an avalanche of Uzbek attacks throughout the next hour.

AFC President hails Muharraq Club for clinching AFC Cup 2021 title

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

AFC President hails Muharraq Club for clinching AFC Cup 2021 title

Arad: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated Bahrain’s Muharraq Club for securing their second AFC Cup crown after the West Asians defeated Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf 3-0 in a thrilling final at the Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Bahrain on Friday.

Shaikh Salman said: “On behalf of the Asian football family, I must congratulate Muharraq Club for their incredible consistency and steadfast perseverance in securing the coveted AFC Cup 2021 title.

“Credit must also be given to everyone at the club, from the backroom staff to the coaches for working tirelessly behind the scenes and I am sure that this victory will inspire the club towards greater achievements in the future.

Muharraq's Abdulwahab Al Maloud named 2021 AFC Cup MVP

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Muharraq's Abdulwahab Al Maloud named 2021 AFC Cup MVP

Arad: Muharraq Club forward Abdulwahab Al Malood enjoyed double glory on Friday, being named the 2021 AFC Cup Most Valuable Player to add to his team’s 3-0 triumph over FC Nasaf to win a second AFC Cup title in their history.

The midfielder played a sterling part in the Bahraini side winning the AFC Cup for a second time with his consistent performances throughout a season which they capped with a dominant 3-0 win over Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf in the final.

Al Maloud started every one of Muharraq’s seven matches in the 2021 AFC Cup, topping the competition’s assist charts, setting up six goals for his teammates, including Mahmoud Al Mardi’s opening goal in the final.

Nasaf's Norchaev wins 2021 AFC Cup Top Scorer award

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Nasaf's Norchaev wins 2021 AFC Cup Top Scorer award

Arad: FC Nasaf forward Khusain Norchaev won the 2021 AFC Cup top scorer award after finishing the campaign with seven goals, two more than his nearest challenger, Ahal FC’s Elman Tagayev.

The 19-year-old entered the history books becoming the youngest player in the competition’s history to be named top scorer, breaking the record of Shabab Al Ordon’s Odai Al Saify, who was the 2007 AFC Cup joint top scorer with five goals aged 21.

Norchaev became the first Uzbek to win the AFC Cup top scorer award and the second Nasaf player after Montenegrin striker Ivan Boskovic in 2011.

Doan added to Japan squad

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Doan added to Japan squad

Tokyo: Ritsu Doan has been added to Japan’s squad for their Group B matches in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022 against Vietnam and Oman later this month, the Japan Football Association has announced.

The 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven winger had initially been left out of Hajime Moriyasu’s squad due to a knee injury sustained in the build-up to last month’s meeting with Saudi Arabia, but was called up on Saturday for the games in Hanoi and Muscat.