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!”
https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/vital_borkelmans-jordan_1.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Qatar suffered a minor setback in their preparation for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 after falling to a 1-0 defeat to Algeria at the Khalifa International Stadium, while India and Oman played to a goalless draw on Thursday.
QATAR 0-1 ALGERIA
Doha: Drawn in Group E in the Continental showpiece, Qatar had enjoyed an undefeated streak since their win over Switzerland in November which was put to a halt by a Baghdad Bounedjah goal in the 57th minute.
Felix Sanchez's side will have one more friendly with Islamic Republic of Iran on New Year's Eve before heading to the UAE to open their campaign against Lebanon at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on January 9.
They will play DPR Korea and Saudi Arabia on January 13 and 17 respectively.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: With just nine days to go to the greatest AFC Asian Cup in history, the largest-ever cast of 24 teams have announced their final list of 23 players as the attention of the footballing world shifts to the United Arab Emirates.
Football fans from across the globe will feast their eyes on the abundance of talent from the 552 players selected and leading the way is none other than Uzbekistan’s Ignatiy Nesterov who is in line to join an exclusive elite group to feature in a record fifth AFC Asian Cup tournament.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: The last of this four-part series exploring the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 host cities takes us to the UAE's 'Garden City', Al Ain.
The smallest of the four host cities, the name of Al Ain is familiar to football fans across the continent largely thanks to the team carrying its name. Al Ain is the UAE's most successful club, but there is more to this tranquile oasis on the UAE-Oman border than the 2003 AFC Champions League winners.
City: Al Ain
Population: 767,000
Local Clubs: Al Ain FC
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Young Palestine player Mohammed Basim Rashid is hoping his skills will not go unnoticed at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 so that he can grab a professional contract with a top club in the region.
The central midfielder was in an upbeat mood as he spoke to the-AFC.com on Palestine’s chances in the Continental showpiece, saying they aim to create a flutter or two in the UAE.
“We are a highly motivated team who will spare no effort to show we belong in the Asian Cup. We are not playing in the tournament just to make up the numbers,” Basim said during an exclusive interview at his team hotel in Doha where Palestine are preparing for the event.
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.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Mirlan Murzaev is hoping the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 will put Kyrgyz Republic on the international football map as the Central Asians head to their first-ever Continental championship.
The 28-year-old forward has a key role to play in the team and is aware of his responsibilities as Kyrgyz football fans warm up to the game of football, which didn’t enjoy much traction in the country until a few years ago.
Kyrgyz Republic became independent after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 and played their first international match in history against Uzbekistan a year later, losing 3-0.
They did not qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in five previous attempts, eventually breaking the jinx this time and raising expectations in his country.