West Asia Wrap: Al Hilal close in on Al Nassr; Al Arabi maintain pace

Mon, 16 Jan, 2023

West Asia Wrap: Al Hilal close in on Al Nassr; Al Arabi maintain pace

Doha: Al Hilal SFC moved within a point of Al Nassr after the Saudi Pro League leaders were held by Al Shabab on Sunday.

In Qatar, Al Arabi maintained their fine form to stay two points ahead at the top of the standings.
 
There was also action in Lebanon, Palestine and Syria so join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the past week's domestic action across West Asia. 

Preview - S-finals: Iraq v Qatar; Bahrain v Oman

Sun, 15 Jan, 2023

Preview - S-finals: Iraq v Qatar; Bahrain v Oman

Basra: The 2023 Gulf Cup semi-finals are set to be blockbuster affairs if the group stage was anything to go by.

Hosts Iraq will play Oman first on Monday while defending champions Bahrain can expect to be tested by a young Qatar side eager to impress.

Preview – Final, 2nd Leg: Thailand v Vietnam

Sun, 15 Jan, 2023

Preview – Final, 2nd Leg: Thailand v Vietnam

Bangkok: Thailand and Vietnam will face off for the right to become champions of Southeast Asia when the sides go head-to-head in the second leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final at Thammasat Stadium on Monday.

Having scored two away goals in a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first leg in Hanoi on Friday, defending champions Thailand hold a slender advantage going into the return meeting as they look to claim a record-extending seventh regional title.

Kerr, Kuol in the running for FIFA honours

Fri, 13 Jan, 2023

Kerr, Kuol in the running for FIFA honours

Zurich: Australia captain Sam Kerr has been nominated for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022.

Also nominated is Kerr's compatriot Alou Kuol, who is in the running for the Puskas Award for best goal of the calendar year.
 
Kerr's nomination for the Best Fifa Women's Player does not come as a surprise after yet another stellar year for club and country.

Al Hilal set for Wydad Casablanca challenge

Fri, 13 Jan, 2023

Al Hilal set for Wydad Casablanca challenge

Rabat: Al Hilal SFC will meet CAF champions Wydad Casablanca in the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022 following the draw at the Mohammed VI Football Academy on Friday.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal are Asia’s only representative in the 19th edition of the global showpiece which pits the champions from the six Continental confederations and the top club from the host nation. The tournament will run from February 1-11.
 

Newcastle's Garang Kuol goes to Hearts on loan

Fri, 13 Jan, 2023

Newcastle's Garang Kuol goes to Hearts on loan

Kuala Lumpur: Australia striker Garang Kuol has joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian on loan from Newcastle United until the end of the current season.

The 18-year-old became the youngest player to represent the Socceroos at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 after signing for English Premier League side Newcastle from A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners late last year.

A first as Malaysia’s Kogileswaran Raj joins Chungbuk Cheongju

Fri, 13 Jan, 2023

A first as Malaysia’s Kogileswaran Raj joins Chungbuk Cheongju

Kuala Lumpur: Kogileswaran Raj has become the first Malaysian to play professional football in Korea Republic after penning a deal with K-League 2 club Chungbuk Cheongju on Thursday.

The former Petaling Jaya City striker signed a one-year contract with the Cheongju side.