News

Al Ahli Saudi fight back to stay on title track

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Al Ahli Saudi fight back to stay on title track

Jeddah: Second half goals from Galeno and Ivan Toney saw Al Ahli Saudi FC overcome a first half deficit to defeat Vissel Kobe 2-1 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Monday and book their place in Saturday’s final of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™.

The champions launched a dramatic turnaround following the interval after Yoshinori Muto had given the J1 League side a 31st minute lead and Matthias Jaissle’s side remain on track to become the first team since Al Ittihad to retain the continental title in 2005.

Al Ahli will take on either FC Machida Zelvia from Japan or Shabab Al Ahli from the United Emirates in the final, with that pair due to meet in the second semi-final at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium on Tuesday.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/s-final-vissel-kobe-jpn-v-al-ahli-saudi-fc-ksa

S-final - Preview: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Mon, 20 Apr, 2026

S-final - Preview: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Jeddah: Go Kuroda played down the additional day of rest FC Machida Zelvia had compared to Shabab Al Ahli as the head coach challenged his defence to come out on top in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ semi-final on Tuesday.

Japan’s Machida defeated Al Ittihad Club 1-0 in the quarter-finals on Friday while Shabab needed extra-time to beat Buriram United 3-2 a day later but the former high-school coach turned professional tactician said everything goes out the window once the opening whistle is blown.

Machida’s Mochizuki, Shabab’s Almeqbaali aiming for the stars

Mon, 20 Apr, 2026

Machida’s Mochizuki, Shabab’s Almeqbaali aiming for the stars

Jeddah: Henry Mochizuki and Hamad Almeqbaali are aiming for the stars when they lock horns in the AFC Champions League Finals Jeddah 2026™ semi-final on Tuesday.

Their respective sides FC Machida Zelvia and Shabab Al Ahli are two matches away from tasting glory and neither player wants their fairytale run to end at the last four stage.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/video/acltwo-|-quarter-finals-al-ahli-sc-qat-3-1-al-hussein-jor

Al Ahli will be ready, promises Draxler

Mon, 20 Apr, 2026

Al Ahli will be ready, promises Draxler

Dubai: Julian Draxler is relishing the prospect of facing Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club after helping Al Ahli SC defeat Al Hussein 3-1 on Sunday to reach the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ West Zone semi-final.

The playmaker created the opening goal for Erik Exposito before scoring the second directly from a corner kick. Michel Vlap added the third late on as Qatar’s Al Ahli set up a semi-final against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr on Wednesday. 

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/video/acltwo-|-quarter-finals-al-wasl-fc-uae-0-4-al-nassr-club-ksa

Jesus: Al Nassr must go all the way

Mon, 20 Apr, 2026

Jesus: Al Nassr must go all the way

Dubai: Head coach Jorge Jesus believes that Al Nassr Club must strive for the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ title after a commanding 4-0 win over Al Wasl FC in their quarter-final tie on Sunday.

Fielding his strongest XI for the first time this campaign, goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Inigo Martinez, Abdulelah Al Amri and Sadio Mane kept Al Nassr in the hunt for a double with the side also leading the Saudi Pro League.

Q-final: Al Ahli beat Al Hussein to keep dream alive

Mon, 20 Apr, 2026

Q-final: Al Ahli beat Al Hussein to keep dream alive

Dubai: Former Germany midfielder Julian Draxler scored direct from a corner to lead Al Ahli SC to a 3-1 win over Al Hussein from Jordan on Sunday as the Qatari side progressed to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™.

Erik Exposito had given Al Ahli the lead in the second minute but, while Yousef Qashi levelled the scores 19 minutes later, it was Draxler who proved to be the difference between the teams, spectacularly bending in his set-piece in the 65th minute.

Michel Vlap also scored a stoppage time penalty and the result means Al Ahli will take on Al Nassr Club from Saudi Arabia in the semi-final on Wednesday, with the winners facing Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the final next month.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/photo/q-final-al-ahli-sc-qat-v-al-hussein-jor

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league.html/video/challengeleague-|-quarter-finals-al-ansar-fc-lbn-0-3-fc-muras-united-kgz

Q-final: Muras United cruise past Al Ansar

Mon, 20 Apr, 2026

Q-final: Muras United cruise past Al Ansar

Bishkek: FC Muras United from Kyrgyz Republic moved into the semi-finals of the AFC Challenge League 2025/26™ on Sunday as a 3-0 win over Al Ansar from Lebanon in Bishkek set up a last four meeting with Kuwait SC.

Two goals in four minutes at the end of the first half from Denis Yaskovich and Alimardon Shukrov set Edmar de Lacerda’s side on their way to a convincing win with Andriy Batsula netting the third with 16 minutes remaining.

Muras United will take on Kuwait on Wednesday with the winners of that clash meeting Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC of Cambodia for the title.