Jurcevic steps down as Lebanon head coach

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Jurcevic steps down as Lebanon head coach

Beirut: Nikola Jurcevic has stepped down as the Lebanon national team head coach “by mutual consent”, the Lebanese Football Federation said on Saturday.

The Croatian was appointed head coach two months ago with the task of taking Lebanon to the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023, with the West Asian side to open their Group A campaign against the host nation on January 12.

Test Your Knowledge - Round 9

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

Test Your Knowledge - Round 9

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Cup™ quiz is back with more challenging questions about the continent's premier national team tournament.

Try it out to see how well versed you - the fans - are as the countdown for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ gathers pace. 

Player to Watch: Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq)

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq)

Kuala Lumpur: Just two years after making his international debut, young Ali Al Hamadi has emerged as one of the most exciting Iraqi players in recent times, as the Lions of Mesopotamia prepare to compete at the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023.

Born in Maysan in the south of Iraq, Al Hamadi never played professional football in his country of birth. Instead, he came through the ranks at Tranmere Rovers and Swansea City, having emigrated to the UK with his parents from an early age.
 
Following a move to AFC Wimbledon in the third tier of English football, Al Hamadi grew into one of the most important players of his team, with eight goals in 17 games and a League Two September Player of The Month to his name already this season.

Player to Watch: Asnawi Mangkualam (Indonesia)

Sat, 09 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Asnawi Mangkualam (Indonesia)

Kuala Lumpur: Tenacious and physical with a desire to attack, Indonesia’s right-back Asnawi Mangkualam is a captain who leads by example in his efforts to drive his national team forward.

The 24-year-old possesses a determination that belies his youth and it is little wonder he is the first name on the team sheet for head coach Shin Tae-yong.
 
Football is in the blood of a player who represented his country consistently at youth level, with Indonesia’s Liga 1 outfit PSM Makassar central to his development.

Player to Watch: Sunil Chhetri (India)

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Sunil Chhetri (India)

Kuala Lumpur: Even at the grand old age of 39, India captain Sunil Chhetri continues to shoulder the hopes of an entire nation as he remains the talismanic figure of the Indian national team.

The evergreen Bengaluru FC forward first appeared in the AFC Asian Cup™ back in 2011, which was also held in Qatar, and he returns to the Gulf country for his third continental appearance.
 
India’s most capped player and the fourth highest men’s international goalscorer of all time has won numerous accolades for club and country and is once again looking to galvanise his beloved nation at the upcoming quadrennial showpiece.

Player to Watch: Everton Camargo (Hong Kong, China)

Thu, 07 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Everton Camargo (Hong Kong, China)

Kuala Lumpur: Since taking over as Hong Kong, China head coach in December 2021 Jorn Andersen has sought to add energy and goals to a team that often lacked an attacking edge; with the integration of Everton Camargo into his squad in September the Norwegian finally has both.

The Brazil-born forward has only played four times for his new team but in that time the 32-year-old has added pace and power to the right side of a line-up that will be representing the territory at the AFC Asian Cup™ for the first time since 1968.

Player to Watch: Wu Lei (China PR)

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Wu Lei (China PR)

Kuala Lumpur: Wu Lei has been the standout name on the China PR team sheet for a number of years, and with that comes the weight of expectation from a nation that has yet to win the most prestigious prize in Asian football. 

The forward has twice fired Shanghai Port to the Chinese Super League title, became the first player from his country to score in Spain’s top flight, and has netted more than 250 goals since making his senior club debut as a 14-year-old back in 2006.
 
Now 32 and set to appear in his third AFC Asian Cup™, Wu will look to inspire China to a strong showing at Qatar 2023. 

Player to watch: Komail Al Aswad (Bahrain)

Tue, 05 Dec, 2023

Player to watch: Komail Al Aswad (Bahrain)

Riyadh: Few Bahraini players have experienced as much success as midfielder Komail Al Aswad, the former gymnast who has been at the heart of all good memories for both club and country for the best part of a decade.

The Riffa born man grew up focusing on gymnastics and was so good at it from an early age that he represented Bahrain in regional competitions before turning 12. He then switched to football where he would soon find his way to his hometown club Riffa SC.
 
Over the course of a decade, Al Aswad won four Bahraini Premier League titles with Riffa SC and was one of their standout performers as they reached the Zonal Final in the AFC Cup™ 2022.

Player to Watch: Maty Ryan (Australia)

Mon, 04 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Maty Ryan (Australia)

Kuala Lumpur: Since making his international debut for Australia against DPR Korea in December 2012, Socceroos captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan has been no stranger to success.

The 31-year-old former Central Coast Mariners man was between the posts when Ange Postecoglou led the country to their first AFC Asian Cup™ title on home soil in 2015 and he has been a mainstay of the squad that has qualified for each of the last three FIFA World Cup finals.
 
But for all that time at the summit of Asian football, Ryan has not had his thirst for glory quenched and when the Australians roll up in Qatar to launch their latest challenge to claim the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January, Ryan will be man leading the Socceroos’ charge.