LATEST NEWS - SAFF

Al Nassr's Castro, Persepolis' Golmohammadi satisfied with stalemate

Tue, 28 Nov, 2023

Al Nassr's Castro, Persepolis' Golmohammadi satisfied with stalemate

Riyadh: Al Nassr head coach Luis Castro and his Persepolis FC counterpart Yahya Golmohammadi were content despite their teams settling for a goalless draw in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group E tie on Monday.

The point was enough for Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr to confirm top spot and a place in the Round of 16 while Persepolis' hopes now depend on defeating Al Duhail SC next week to advance as one of the three best runners-up from the West Zone.

Hamdallah wants more from Al Ittihad

Tue, 28 Nov, 2023

Hamdallah wants more from Al Ittihad

Olmaliq: Abderrazak Hamdallah wants Al Ittihad to push on after the Saudi Pro League side earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over AGMK FC in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group C tie on Monday.

Morocco's Hamdallah scored both goals as reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad shrugged off their recent indifferent form to maintain a firm grip on Group C, with a draw against Islamic Republic of Iran's Sepahan FC next week enough to take them through to the Round of 16. 

Group E: Al Nassr (KSA) 0-0 Persepolis FC (IRN)

Tue, 28 Nov, 2023

Group E: Al Nassr (KSA) 0-0 Persepolis FC (IRN)

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr confirmed their qualification for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 as Group E winners on Monday despite playing most of their 0-0 draw against Persepolis FC in Riyadh with 10 men.

The result means Luis Castro’s side cannot be overtaken at the summit by second placed Persepolis with one round of matches remaining after Al Nassr held on to take a point despite Ali Lajami’s sending off in the 17th minute.

Al Nassr move onto 13 points from five games with Persepolis five points behind and the result also means that Al Duhail have been eliminated after the Qatari side had knocked Istiklol out of the competition earlier in the day.

The Iranians can still take one of the three best runners-up spots available in the last 16 when they take on Al Duhail in the final group game on December 5.

Group C: AGMK (FC) (UZB) 1-2 Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Tue, 28 Nov, 2023

Group C: AGMK (FC) (UZB) 1-2 Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Olmaliq: Al Ittihad made it four wins in five when they consigned AGMK FC to their fifth straight defeat with a 2-1 score at the OKMK Sports Complex in Group B of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Monday. 

AGMK, knocked out already, will play their final game in the current edition next week against Air Force Club of Iraq, while Al Ittihad face IR Iran’s Sepahan on the same day.

Preview - Group D: Navbahor (UZB) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Mon, 27 Nov, 2023

Preview - Group D: Navbahor (UZB) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Namangan: The Group D winners are set to be decided when Navbahor welcome Al Hilal SFC to the Markaziy Stadium in Group D of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Tuesday.

The teams are tied on 10 points, with four-time Asian champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia ahead with a superior goal difference. 

Preview - Group A: Al Fayha (KSA) v Ahal FC (TKM)

Mon, 27 Nov, 2023

Preview - Group A: Al Fayha (KSA) v Ahal FC (TKM)

Riyadh: Al Fayha meet Ahal FC in Group A of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Tuesday with both needing victory to keep their slim hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive.

Turkmenistan's Ahal FC are on four points with Al Fayha of Saudi Arabia one adrift with the only route open to the Round of 16 for both is by finishing as one of the three best runners-up from the West Zone.

Preview - Group E: Al Nassr (KSA) v Persepolis FC (IRN)

Sun, 26 Nov, 2023

Preview - Group E: Al Nassr (KSA) v Persepolis FC (IRN)

Riyadh: Al Nassr will look to confirm their Round of 16 spot when they welcome Persepolic FC to Riyadh for their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group E tie on Monday.

The Saudi Arabia side only need a point to confirm top spot as they sit five points ahead of Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis.

Preview - Group C: AGMK (FC) (UZB) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Sun, 26 Nov, 2023

Preview - Group C: AGMK (FC) (UZB) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Olmaliq: AGMK FC and Al Ittihad FC will be on redemption missions when they face off in Group C of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Monday. 

Uzbekistan's AGMK were on the receiving end of a 9-0 defeat by Islamic Republic of Iran's Sepahan FC on Matchday Four while Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia were beaten 2-0 by Iraq's Air Force Club.

Saudi Arabia geared for trophy challenge

Sun, 26 Nov, 2023

Saudi Arabia geared for trophy challenge

Kuala Lumpur: In 10 previous AFC Asian Cup™ appearances, Saudi Arabia have emerged champions thrice and runners-up the same number of times.

However, the last of their titles was won in 1996 while the defeat in the 2007 final to Iraq was followed by group stage exits in the following two editions and a Round of 16 elimination in UAE 2019.

Super Al Hilal hit Al Hazm for nine

Sun, 26 Nov, 2023

Super Al Hilal hit Al Hazm for nine

Buraidah: Al Hilal SFC restored their four-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League 2023/24 standings with a stunning 9-0 win over Al Hazm on Saturday.

The biggest victory in Saudi Pro League history took the four-time Asian champions to 38 points, with Al Nassr second. 

Ronaldo double powers Al Nassr past Al Akhdoud

Sat, 25 Nov, 2023

Ronaldo double powers Al Nassr past Al Akhdoud

Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr defeated Al Akhdoud 3-0 on Friday to keep the pressure on Saudi Pro League 2023/24 leaders Al Hilal SFC.

The win took Al Nassr to within a point of Al Hilal, who play Al Hazm on Saturday. Defending champions Al Ittihad, however, had to settle for 1-1 draw with Al Ettifaq.

#AFCU23 Qatar 2024 groups finalised

Thu, 23 Nov, 2023

#AFCU23 Qatar 2024 groups finalised

Doha: The AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Qatar 2024 has all the ingredients to be a thriller following the official draw in Doha on Thursday.

Defending champions Saudi Arabia lead the cast, with former winners Korea Republic (2020), Uzbekistan (2018), Japan (2016) and Iraq (2013) also looking to become the first team to lift the coveted trophy for a second time.