Winning starts for Al Ittihad, Al Hilal; Al Nassr edged by Al Ettifaq

Tue, 15 Aug, 2023

Winning starts for Al Ittihad, Al Hilal; Al Nassr edged by Al Ettifaq

Riyadh: Al Ittihad kicked off their defence of the Saudi Pro League title with an impressive 3-0 win over Al Raed on Monday.

Al Hilal SFC, aiming to regain the trophy after a third-placed finish in 2022-23, scored a 3-1 win over Abha but Al Nassr fell to a 2-1 defeat against Al Ettifaq despite Sadio Mane scoring on his debut. 

AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women’s Champions League

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women’s Champions League

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee today heralded a new era for Asian club football by unveiling the names of the three new club competitions alongside significant increases in funding for the 76 Participating Teams, as well as announcing the introduction of the AFC Women’s Champions League.

The three groundbreaking initiatives, which are aimed at propelling Asian football to new heights and fostering greater growth and inclusivity, will take effect from the 2024-2025 season.

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (West)

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (West)

Riyadh: The AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 gets underway on Tuesday as 10 sides from across the continent compete in the one-legged preliminary round, bidding to move a step closer towards the group stage of Asia’s most prestigious club competition.

Excitement is growing ahead of the upcoming edition as, for the first time since the beginning of the 2020 campaign and the onset of Covid-19, the AFC Champions League’s group stage is set to return to its home-and-away format.
 
For the teams in the preliminary round, that remains two wins away. Ahead of the upcoming fixtures, the-AFC.com profiles the six sides from the West side of the draw aiming to clear the first hurdle.

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (East)

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (East)

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 gets underway on Tuesday as 10 sides from across the continent compete in the one-legged preliminary round, bidding to move a step closer towards the group stage of Asia’s most prestigious club competition.

Excitement is growing as the tournament nears because, for the first time since the beginning of the 2020 campaign and the onset of COVID-19, the AFC Champions League’s group stage is set to return to its home-and-away format.
 
For the teams in the preliminary round, that remains two wins away. Ahead of the upcoming fixtures, the-AFC.com profiles the four teams from the East side of the draw aiming to clear the first hurdle.

Preliminary Round 2: The Contenders

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Preliminary Round 2: The Contenders

Kuala Lumpur: The anticipation is building around AFC Cup™ 2023-24 as 10 teams from across Asia are gearing up for five one-legged Preliminary Round 2 ties starting on Tuesday with the aim of moving a step closer to a place in the continental competition.

The qualification action began on August 8 when Nepal’s Machhindra FC came from behind to defeat Bhutan’s Paro FC 3-2 in the only Preliminary Round 1 match in Kathmandu and moved on to the next stage where they are now joined by nine other contenders battling for places in the playoffs. 
 
Ahead of the upcoming gamess, join the-AFC.com as we look at the 10 sides from the South, Central and ASEAN zones who will take to the pitch in the coming days. 

Instant Australian 'national hero' Arnold ready to deny England

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Instant Australian 'national hero' Arnold ready to deny England

Sydney: Mackenzie Arnold wasn't even Australia's first-choice goalkeeper until recently, but is now being hailed as a national hero and stands in England's way in their FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand semi-final on Wednesday.

Arnold played a central role in the penalty drama on Saturday which sent co-hosts Australia into the last four of the World Cup for the first time.
 
She saved three penalty kicks - and missed one of her own - to help propel the Matildas to a thrilling 7-6 shootout win over France in the quarter-finals.
 
It has been a whirlwind few months for the 29-year-old.

Gustavsson hails Kerr’s amazing impact

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Gustavsson hails Kerr’s amazing impact

Brisbane: Head coach Tony Gustavsson praised Sam Kerr for providing Australia the much needed motivation to see off France in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 quarter-finals on Saturday.

Kerr came on as a substitute, replacing Emily van Egmond in the 55th minute and played the most number of minutes since picking up a calf injury that has affected her tournament.
 
Her introduction lifted the team as they held France to a 0-0 stalemate after 120 minutes before going on to inspire the Matildas to secure a 7-6 penalty shootout win.