Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: United Arab Emirates suffered a setback in their preparations for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after losing 2-0 to Kuwait in an international friendly, while China PR and Jordan played to a 1-1 draw and Iraq scored a 1-0 win over Palestine on Friday.
UAE 0-2 KUWAIT
Dubai: UAE, preparing to host the AFC Asian Cup 2019, fell to a surprise 2-0 to Kuwait.
Kuwait claimed victory through Bader Al Mutawa and Omar Beitar's goals in the 45th and 86th minutes respectively.
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www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/iraq_v_palestine_-_friendly_-_ifa_credit_-_1.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Vital Borkelmans is a positive guy who likes to emphasise over and over again that he is also a “happy coach”. Less than four months in the hot seat as coach of Jordan, the two-time Belgian World Cupper feels he has grown into the job and is brimming with confidence as he heads into his first AFC Asian Cup.
“Since I took over in September I have been trying a lot of things. My focus is on developing a system and so far I am very happy with the progress the team and I have made,” former Belgian international Borkelmans told the-AFC.com in an exclusive interview.
“The players have responded well to my methods. In fact, credit to them that they made my job of selecting the team very difficult!”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Cyprus-based Musa Al Taamari will lead Jordan for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The West Asians announced their final squad of 23 for the Continental showpiece which kicks off in 10 days with Al-Taamari, who plays for APOEL, leading a well experienced squad.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Qatar notched another win in their buildup to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, defeating Jordan 2-0 in a friendly match in Doha on Sunday.
Almoez Ali gave Qatar the lead in the 31st minute and substitute Ahmad Abdelmutaal added the second in second half added time in a match which was played behind closed doors.
Qatar have been enjoying a rich vein of form in their buildup to the AFC Asian Cup, having defeated - among others - Switzerland, Ecuador and China PR in friendlies.
Qatar, who are in Group E, will face Lebanon on January 9 in their opening AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 match. They will then face DPR Korea on January 13 before concluding their group stage campaign against three-time champions Saudi Arabia four days later.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: A 69th minute goal from Muhannad Ali helped Iraq secure a 2-1 win against China PR in an international friendly match ahead of both their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 campaigns.
Ahmad Ibrahim (pictured above) opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for the West Asians, but China made sure they went into the break level as star striker Wu Lei equalised two minutes before the half-time whistle.
However, it was 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners Iraq who prevailed, courtesy of Ali’s goal in the 69th minute.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Already a legend at club level with Shanghai SIPG, 27-year-old Wu Lei is looking to emulate his goal-scoring exploits in China PR colours at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 in January.
Although he has never played his club football abroad, Wu Lei is widely regarded as one of the top players to have emerged from China PR over the past decade. His two nominations of the AFC Player of the Year award - he finished third in both 2016 and 2017 - are testament to his status in Asian football.
Nationality: China PR
Date of birth: 19/11/1991
Position: Winger
Current club: Shanghai SIPG
Previous clubs: None
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The last time the AFC Asian Cup was played in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia arrived in Abu Dhabi with their chances being written off.
A disappointing Gulf Cup performance saw head coach Ze Mario replaced with Nelo Vingada as expectations plummeted. Three weeks later, the trophy was heading back to Riyadh.
The mood was downbeat and the hopes low when Nelo Vingada led his team off the flight from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi in the days leading up to start of the 11th edition of the AFC Asian Cup.