R16 - Bahrain v Japan: Facts & Figures

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

R16 - Bahrain v Japan: Facts & Figures

Doha: Bahrain will be on a mission to end Japan's dream of a fifth title when they meet in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 on Tuesday.

Bahrain advanced to the knockout stage as the Group E winners while Japan finished as the Group D runners-up, having suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Iraq. 

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Qatar’s Lopez hails ‘unique’ Afif after Palestine win

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

Qatar’s Lopez hails ‘unique’ Afif after Palestine win

Al Khor: Akram Afif’s individual performance was the difference according to head coach Marquez Lopez as Qatar came from behind to defeat Palestine 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 at Al Bayt Stadium on Monday.

After Palestine took the lead through Oday Dabbagh half an hour into the first half, it was Afif who set-up Hassan Al Haydos for the equaliser with a well-rehearsed move from a corner, before adding his fourth goal of the campaign from the penalty spot just after the restart to secure the win for the hosts.
 
Contributing to two goals on the night, Afif took his overall AFC Asian Cup goal contributions tally to 17, having assisted a record 10 goals and scored one in the UAE 2019 edition. He now sits second on the scoring chart for the ongoing tournament with four goals to his name in addition to two assists.

Ammouta: Perfect plan took Jordan past Iraq

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

Ammouta: Perfect plan took Jordan past Iraq

Doha: Hussein Ammouta attributed a sound tactical plan for Jordan's exciting 3-2 win over Iraq in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.

Iraq dominated from the start, limiting Jordan to counter-attacks but that didn’t stop Ammouta's side from taking the lead in the closing stages of the first half through Yazan Al Naimat.
 
Iraq came back fighting in the second half, scoring twice through Suad Natiq and Aymen Hussein, only to be left a man down following the latter’s dismissal with Jordan netting through Yazan Al Arab and Nizar Al Rashdan deep into added time to set up a quarter-final with Tajikistan on Friday. 

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ sets new all-time attendance record

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ sets new all-time attendance record

More fans have attended the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ than any other edition in the tournament’s 68-year history

Doha: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ has set a new total attendance record of 1.06 million after 63,753 passionate fans packed the Al Bayt Stadium to witness defending champions Qatar emerge victorious over Palestine in the Round of 16 on Monday.

Tajikistan heroes Yatimov and Hanonov dedicate historic victory to fans

Mon, 29 Jan, 2024

Tajikistan heroes Yatimov and Hanonov dedicate historic victory to fans

Al Rayyan: Goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov and defender Vahdat Hanonov paid tribute to Tajikistan fans after the pair emerged as the heroes of Tajikistan’s penalty shootout victory over the United Arab Emirates in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 on Sunday.

Playing their first-ever knockout stage match on their continental debut, the Tajiks took the lead at the half-hour mark through Hanonov whose towering header found its way past goalkeeper Khaled Eisa and into the bottom corner of the Emirati net.
 
Despite being clawed back late in added time through a Khalifa Al Hammadi header, head coach Petar Segrt’s men held out throughout the 30 minutes of extra time to force a penalty shootout in which goalkeeper Yatimov saved from Caio Canedo to set his team up for a 5-3 victory.

Taremi: IR Iran have what it takes to be champions

Mon, 29 Jan, 2024

Taremi: IR Iran have what it takes to be champions

Doha: Mehdi Taremi has spent much of his career being compared to the legendary Ali Daei, but the Islamic Republic of Iran striker is hoping he can go one step further than his mentor and break his nation’s AFC Asian Cup™ drought.

Iranian fans need no reminder of how long it has been since the country last claimed the AFC Asian Cup; since 1976 numerous teams have tried – and failed – to take the title to Tehran for a fourth time.

Team Melli have turned up in Qatar for the current edition of the continental championship with designs on claiming the trophy, another talented team ready to turn 48 years of heartache into euphoria and delight.

The man spearheading the latest challenge is Mehdi Taremi, a player who needs little introduction due to his remarkable exploits for both club and country. A prolific scorer for Porto and Iran, Taremi is hoping to achieve what so many before him have failed to do.

Playing in Europe has made me a better player, says Bahrain's Yusuf

Sun, 28 Jan, 2024

Playing in Europe has made me a better player, says Bahrain's Yusuf

Doha: After starting the first two matches on the bench, Abdulla Yusuf had a major impact on Bahrain’s AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Group E clash with Jordan, scoring the goal that took his side into the knockout rounds. 

He tells the-AFC.com about how life in Europe has made him a more complete player.