Flying starts for India, Kuwait

Thu, 22 Jun, 2023

Flying starts for India, Kuwait

Bengaluru: Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick as India defeated Pakistan 4-0 in their opening 2023 SAFF Championship Group A match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.

Kuwait, meanwhile, kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 defeat of Nepal.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/2964154.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/2964158.html

Azmoun strike powers IR Iran to trophy

Wed, 21 Jun, 2023

Azmoun strike powers IR Iran to trophy

Tashkent: Sardar Azmoun’s second half strike secured Islamic Republic of Iran a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in the 2023 CAFA Nations Cup final at the Milliy Stadium on Tuesday.

Azmoun struck three minutes into the second half as Iran emerged the inaugural champions of the tournament. 

Title joy for Iraq

Wed, 21 Jun, 2023

Title joy for Iraq

Baghdad: Iraq won the 2023 WAFF U23 Championship after a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Islamic Republic of Iran in the final on Tuesday.

The title was Iraq's first as they clinched it before some 30,000 home fans at the Al Madina International Stadium.
 

Pathways to AFC Champions League™ and AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Group Stages confirmed

Thu, 03 Aug, 2023

Pathways to AFC Champions League™ and AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Group Stages confirmed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed the battle lines of the Preliminary and Playoff Stages of the AFC Cup™ and AFC Champions League™ 2023/24.

The race to secure a place in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group Stage will begin in Hong Kong, China where Hong Kong Rangers will host Vietnam’s Haiphong FC on August 15, 2023, in the Preliminary Stage with the winners sealing a date with Korea Republic’s Incheon United FC in the Playoff Stage on August 22.

Group A: Tanakrit strike takes Thailand to the top

Thu, 22 Jun, 2023

Group A: Tanakrit strike takes Thailand to the top

Pathum Thani: Thailand struck deep into added time to defeat Yemen 1-0 in their final AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 Group A tie at the Pathum Thani Stadium on Wednesday.

Defender Tanakrit Lomnak’s goal meant Thailand finished top of the group and will meet the Group B runners-up in the quarter-finals while Yemen will play the Group B winners. 

Group A: Dainei double sees Malaysia end on high note

Thu, 22 Jun, 2023

Group A: Dainei double sees Malaysia end on high note

Pathum Thani: Malaysia ended their AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 Group B campaign on a high after coming from behind to defeat Laos 2-1 at the Thammasat Stadium on Wednesday.

Dainei Mat Disa cancelled out Sayfon Keohanam’s opener before the Malaysia No 9 scored the winner in the 77th minute to seal their first win of the tournament.

Preview - Group B: Korea Republic v IR Iran

Thu, 22 Jun, 2023

Preview - Group B: Korea Republic v IR Iran

Pathum Thani: Korea Republic head coach Byun Sung-hwan wants his team to maintain their winning momentum when they face Islamic Republic of Iran in their final AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 Group B tie at the Pathum Thani Stadium on Thursday.

Korea Republic are already assured of a place in the quarter-finals after consecutive victories and will face an Iran side needing to avoid defeat to join them in the knockout stage. 

Having stamped their authority on Matchday One with an impressive 6-1 defeat of Qatar, Korea Republic followed up with four unanswered goals against Afghanistan to become the first team in the competition to score double figures.

Preview - Group B: Afghanistan v Qatar

Thu, 22 Jun, 2023

Preview - Group B: Afghanistan v Qatar

Bangkok: Qatar enter their final Group B match on Thursday against Afghanistan requiring both a win and a favour from leaders Korea Republic if they are to progress to the next stage.

The West Asians claimed their first point of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 with a resolute 0-0 draw against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Monday to keep their hopes of qualifying alive. 

It means that Qatar need victory as well as for the Koreans to trump Iran - both by a sufficient combined margin - in order to overcome a 10-goal swing in goal difference to pip the Iranians to second spot.

Preview – Group C: Saudi Arabia v China PR

Thu, 22 Jun, 2023

Preview – Group C: Saudi Arabia v China PR

Chonburi: Saudi Arabia head coach Abdulwahab Nasser Alharbi says their final AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 Group C match against China PR on Thursday will be one that has completely different circumstances from their previous encounters.

Two-time champions of the AFC U16 Championship, Saudi Arabia have already qualified for the quarter-final thanks to consecutive 2-0 wins over Australia and Tajikistan. The West Asians, however, won’t be taking their opponents lightly.

Preview – Group C: Tajikistan v Australia

Thu, 22 Jun, 2023

Preview – Group C: Tajikistan v Australia

Bangkok: Tajikistan and Australia will go head-to-head for a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 when they meet in their last Group C match at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Thursday.

With Saudi Arabia already qualifying for the knock-out stage, the remaining slot is a toss-up between Tajikistan, Australia and China PR, all of whom have a realistic chance of qualifying.
 
Australia go into the match having first lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia, but rebounded on Matchday Two to defeat China PR 5-3 while Tajikistan opened with a 1-1 draw against China PR before losing to Saudi Arabia 2-0. 

Rakhmatullaev glad Uzbekistan still in the race

Wed, 21 Jun, 2023

Rakhmatullaev glad Uzbekistan still in the race

Pathum Thani: Head coach Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev was happy to see Uzbekistan collect their first win at the AFC U17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023 after the young White Wolves edged India 1-0 in their second Group D clash on Tuesday.

With four points to their name, Uzbekistan have perched themselves second behind Japan in the standings on goal difference.  

Sharp Japan make Moriyama happy

Wed, 21 Jun, 2023

Sharp Japan make Moriyama happy

Bangkok: Despite registering 19 shots - six of which were on target - against Uzbekistan in their opening match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 on Saturday, Japan ended up sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw after conceding late on.

It was a different matter on Tuesday at the Rajamangala Stadium as Yoshiro Moriyama oversaw a far more clinical performance, which led to a 4-0 victory over Vietnam in their Group D encounter.

As with the previous match, Yutaka Michikawi gave them a half-time lead but the Japanese were able to add three more goals in the second half this time, as they chalked up a total of 16 shots, with eight on target.