Cooney-Cross joins Arsenal as Zhang signs for Tottenham

Fri, 15 Sep, 2023

Cooney-Cross joins Arsenal as Zhang signs for Tottenham

London: Australia midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross has joined FA Women’s Super League side Arsenal from Sweden’s Hammarby IF in a transfer deadline day move as China PR’s Zhang Linyan completed a one-year loan move to Tottenham Hotspur from Wuhan Jianghan University.

Cooney-Cross, who played all seven of the Matildas’ games in their run to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, becomes the third Australian to sign for Arsenal, joining compatriots Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord.

History beckons for AFC Cup™ 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off

Fri, 22 Sep, 2023

History beckons for AFC Cup™ 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off

Kuala Lumpur: Thirty-six teams will go head to head in a bid to assert regional dominance when the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Group Stage kicks off for one last time on September 18. 

The 19th and final edition of the AFC Cup™ will see the teams from the Confederation’s five zones play a total of 123 matches before the ultimate champions are crowned in the one-legged Final on May 5, 2024, bringing down the curtains on one of the AFC’s most popular club competitions, characterised by memorable matches and breathtaking action. 

#U17WAC Qualifiers set for thrilling conclusion

Fri, 15 Sep, 2023

#U17WAC Qualifiers set for thrilling conclusion

Kuala Lumpur: Eight teams have their sights set on overcoming one final qualifying hurdle next week to secure their place at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2024.

The second round of Qualifiers will run from September 19 to 24 and involves two groups of four, with the top two teams from each to join the three highest-seeded sides from the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Thailand 2019 – current holders Japan, DPR Korea and China PR - and hosts Indonesia in the Finals. 

Mugosa looking to write new chapter in Incheon history

Thu, 14 Sep, 2023

Mugosa looking to write new chapter in Incheon history

Incheon: In football, the age-old adage 'Never go back' often rings true. It serves as a cautionary tale for players and managers who retrace their steps to former clubs as recreating the magic of the past could often prove elusive the second time around. But Stefan Mugosa is trying to buck the trend at Incheon United. 

Following a year-long stint with Vissel Kobe in Japan, the Montenegro international sealed a return to Incheon in July. He is now back in the city where his Asian football journey began five years ago, at the club where he is considered a legend, and hoping to help them leave a mark during their debut AFC Champions League™ campaign.

Tadanari Lee to bring down curtain on glittering career

Fri, 15 Sep, 2023

Tadanari Lee to bring down curtain on glittering career

Singapore: Japan’s AFC Asian Cup winner Tadanari Lee has announced he will retire at the end of the season, more than 12 years after scoring the only goal in the final of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™.

Lee, who is currently playing for Albirex Niigata Singapore, struck in extra time in the decider in Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium as the Samurai Blue defeated Australia to win the AFC Asian Cup for a record fourth time.

Qatar 2023 Watch: Five things we learned from the international break

Fri, 15 Sep, 2023

Qatar 2023 Watch: Five things we learned from the international break

Riyadh: National teams across the continent ramped up their preparations with just under four months remaining until the start of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ with a series of friendlies taking place over the past 10 days.

Preliminary Joint Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ are also just around the corner with the first-round games kicking off mid-October and the second round starting in November, meaning that every national team in Asia has something to prepare for.

Kerr, Miyazawa lead Asian nominees for Best FIFA Awards

Fri, 15 Sep, 2023

Kerr, Miyazawa lead Asian nominees for Best FIFA Awards

Paris: Australia's Sam Kerr and Japan's Hinata Miyazawa are among several Asian players nominated for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023.

Australia women's head coach Tony Gustavsson and former men's head coach Ange Postecoglou have also been nominated.

Benzema magic takes Al Ittihad top, Ighalo grabs hat-trick

Fri, 15 Sep, 2023

Benzema magic takes Al Ittihad top, Ighalo grabs hat-trick

Najran: The Saudi Pro League returned to action as Al Ittihad claimed their fifth win of the 2023/24 season thanks to Karim Benzema’s eye-catching goal in a 1-0 win over Al Akhdoud on Thursday.

The goal takes Benzema’s tally in his maiden season in Saudi Arabia to three from six matches.