AFC Cup 2022 - Archive News

AFC Cup™ - Greatest Goals

Fri, 23 Aug, 2024

AFC Cup™ - Greatest Goals

Kuala Lumpur: One of Asian football’s most entertaining competitions came to an end after the AFC Cup™ trophy was hoisted for the last time in May when Australia's Central Coast Mariners were crowned its final champions.

For two decades, the AFC Cup provided plenty of thrilling moments with many spectacular goals that will live long in the memory of Asian football lovers.

From bicycle kick to backheel flick and long-range screamer to brilliant solo effort, there is plenty of variety on offer as the-AFC.com rewinds the clock to 10 of the greatest goals ever witnessed in the competition’s history.

Stars of the AFC Cup

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

Stars of the AFC Cup

Kuala Lumpur: The curtains have come down on a glorious era in Asian club football with the prestigious AFC Cup™ drawing to a conclusion at the end of last season with Asian club football set to embark on an exciting new journey.

Over the AFC Cup's two-decade-long history since launching in 2004, numerous players across the continent have shone brightly, providing unforgettable moments to savour for Asian football fans.

The-AFC.com selects 10 superstars who lit up the AFC Cup, making it one of the most enjoyable competitions in the Asian football calendar.

Entries confirmed for AFC Champions League Two™ 2024-25

Wed, 19 Jun, 2024

Entries confirmed for AFC Champions League Two™ 2024-25

Kuala Lumpur: The pathway towards the inaugural AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) season was unveiled today by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), with 32 teams competing for top honours in the Continent’s brand-new second-tier men’s club competition.

In accordance with the finalised AFC Club Competitions 2024/25 slot allocations and club licensing requirements, 27 teams from across 21 Member Associations (MAs) – 12 from the West region and 15 from the East – qualify directly to the Group Stage, along with the three teams (two West, one East) that will be eliminated from the Preliminary Stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™.

Mariners’ Vukovic calls time on career

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Mariners’ Vukovic calls time on career

Sydney: Central Coast Mariners’ AFC Cup™-winning captain Danny Vukovic announced his retirement from professional football on Sunday after leading his side to a second successive A-League Championship.

Vukovic was in goal as the Gosford-based club defeated Al Ahed in the AFC Cup final earlier this month and also captained the team that won the A-League Premiers Plate before a 3-1 extra-time win over Melbourne Victory to retain the A-League Championship on Saturday.

New AFC club competition brands inspired by richness of Asian football

Thu, 16 May, 2024

New AFC club competition brands inspired by richness of Asian football

Bangkok: A significant milestone was marked on Thursday by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) with the unveiling of the new look for its revamped club competitions, which will commence from the 2024/25 season.

Taking place at a prestigious ceremony following the conclusion of the 34th AFC Congress 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, a suite of dynamic brands was presented for each of the four new competitions: the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite), AFC Women’s Champions League™ (AWCL), AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) and AFC Challenge LeagueTM (ACGL).

Shaikh Salman hails Central Coast Mariners in fitting AFC Cup™ finale

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Shaikh Salman hails Central Coast Mariners in fitting AFC Cup™ finale

Kuala Lumpur: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated Central Coast Mariners on securing their first-ever AFC Cup™ title after the Australian side defeated Lebanon’s Al Ahed 1-0 in a thrilling Final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Stadium in Muscat, Oman on Sunday.

As the Mariners hoisted the AFC Cup™ trophy for the last time, Sunday’s victory marked the end of an era for Asian club football with the 20-year-old competition setting the path for the new and improved revamped three-tier club competition structure later this year.

Jackson: Central Coast's triumph proves Australian football can compete with the best

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Jackson: Central Coast's triumph proves Australian football can compete with the best

Muscat: Central Coast Mariners' AFC Cup™ 2023/24 triumph is a boost for Australian football, said a delighted Mark Jackson on Sunday.

Alou Kuol's 84th minute strike at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex clinched the title for Central Coast, with the triumph coming a decade after Western Sydney Wanderers had lifted the AFC Champions League™ title.

We tried but Mariners were better, admits Al Ahed's Mohamad

Mon, 06 May, 2024

We tried but Mariners were better, admits Al Ahed's Mohamad

Muscat: Raafat Mohamad admitted defeat in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 final was a bitter fact to accept but was nonetheless proud of Al Ahed FC's drive and determination in Sunday's final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

Seeking to win the AFC Cup for a second time, Lebanon's Al Ahed had to be satisfied with a second place finish following Alou Kuol's late winner for Australia's Central Coast Mariners.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/video/afccup_-_final_|_al_ahed_lbn_0_-_1_central_coast_mariners_aus.html

Doka named MVP

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Doka named MVP

Muscat: Central Coast Mariners' Mikael Doka was named the Most Valuable Player of the AFC Cup 2023/24 on Saturday. 

The defender played a key role in Central Coast's AFC Cup journey, with the Australian club defeating Lebanon's Al Ahed FC 1-0 in the final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Sunday. 

Kuol strike secures Central Coast Mariners historic title

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Kuol strike secures Central Coast Mariners historic title

Muscat: Central Coast Mariners were crowned AFC Cup™ 2023/24 champions after defeating Lebanon's Al Ahed FC 1-0 thanks to a late Alou Kuol strike at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Sunday.

On their debut in the competition, Mariners became just the second Australian club to win an AFC competition, a decade after Western Sydney Wanderers won the AFC Champions League™ on their own debut.
 
The final marked the last-ever game in the AFC Cup which will make way for the three-tier AFC competitions from next season; the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League 2 and AFC Challenge League.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/photo/final_al_ahed_fc_lbn_v_central_coast_mariners_aus.html