Islomov: Tajikistan must contain dangerous trio

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

Islomov: Tajikistan must contain dangerous trio

Al Rayyan: Tabrez Islomov has highlighted Jordan’s attacking trio of Mousa Al Tamari, Ali Olwan and Yazan Al Naimat as the threat Tajikistan must neutralise in their maiden AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ quarter-final at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday.

Islomov has prior knowledge of the trio as the teams played to a 1-1 draw in Group G of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ in November.

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R16 in Numbers

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

R16 in Numbers

Doha: We are down to the final eight teams in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ after four days of action in the Round of 16 where matches were decided by the finest of margins as three of the eight ties went to penalties and another three were settled by a one-goal margin.  

Holders Qatar, four-time winners Japan and 2015 champions Australia all made statement wins in the last 16 while Tajikistan and Jordan took their fairytale runs into the quarter-finals, so join the-AFC.com as we review the Round of 16 by taking a closer look at some of the key facts and stats that caught the eye.

Joy and heartbreak

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

Joy and heartbreak

Doha: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ is set for the quarter-finals following the conclusion of an enthralling Round of 16.

The eight matches were of the highest quality, producing shock results, joy and heartbreak.
 
Tajikistan continued their dream run while five former champions stayed on course for another title. Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at what it meant to the players. 

Social Wrap: Stunning results as Round of 16 concludes

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

Social Wrap: Stunning results as Round of 16 concludes

Doha: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ has now reached the business end of the competition as only eight teams remain in search of continental glory.

The Round of 16 threw up some fascinating encounters and they didn’t disappoint with three of the eight matches going all the way to penalties as fans of Asian football were treated to some nail-biting action.
 
Jubilant celebrations, set-piece secrets and a vintage jersey all feature as the-AFC.com takes a look at the social media channels of those involved.

Ghalehnoy’s penalty strategy pays off for IR Iran

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

Ghalehnoy’s penalty strategy pays off for IR Iran

Doha: Ardeshir Ghalehnoy pinpointed tactical substitutions as the key to Islamic Republic of Iran reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ at the expense of Syria after their Round of 16 match went all the way to a penalty shootout on Wednesday.

Mahdi Torabi was brought on in extra time as Ghalehnoy plotted for the shootout early on, with two other substitutes - Omid Ebrahimi and Karim Ansafarid - three of the five players who scored in the shootout as Iran emerged 5-3 winners after the match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.
 
Having dominated for much of the match, a change in tactics was necessary after Mehdi Taremi was shown a red card late in the second half after picking up two bookings.

Expect more from Japan, warns Moriyasu

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

Expect more from Japan, warns Moriyasu

Doha: Hajime Moriyasu warned the remaining teams at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ that the Samurai Blue can do better after seeing his side hand Bahrain a 3-1 defeat at Al Thumama Stadium to book their place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The four-time champions won despite a minor wobble in the middle of the second half when Ayase Ueda’s own goal gave Bahrain hope following strikes from Ritsu Doan and Takefusa Kubo, but Ueda scored soon after to seal a deserved victory.

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ well poised to smash TV viewership records

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ well poised to smash TV viewership records

AFC’s flagship men’s national team competition Group Stage sees major uplift from 2019 edition

Doha: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ achieved truly global broadcast coverage throughout the Group Stage as close to 60 media partners and over 120 channels provided worldwide coverage of the pulsating action featuring Asia’s top 24 teams. 

And then there were eight

Thu, 01 Feb, 2024

And then there were eight

Doha: Five former champions are among the eight teams through to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ quarter-finals following the conclusion of the Round of 16 on Wednesday.

Three-time winners Islamic Republic of Iran were the final side to check in, defeating Syria 5-3 on penalties after their tie ended 1-1 after 120 minutes at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
 
Four-time champions Japan had booked their spot earlier on Wednesday, cruising 3-1 past Bahrain.