Preview - Group A: DPR Korea v Korea Republic

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Preview - Group A: DPR Korea v Korea Republic

Bali: Head coach Kim Eun-Jung has warned his Korea Republic side to be on their toes ahead of their AFC Women’s U17 Asian Cup Indonesia™ 2024 Group A opener against DPR Korea on Monday.

The tie at the Bali United Training Center is set to be a thriller with Korea Republic, the 2009 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship winners, playing DPR Korea side seeking a fourth title. 

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#AFCU23 champions Japan praised by AFC President

Sat, 04 May, 2024

#AFCU23 champions Japan praised by AFC President

Doha: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President, has congratulated Japan after the young Samurai Blue clinched their second AFC U23 Asian Cup™ title by defeating Uzbekistan 1-0 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Friday.

Both teams had already sealed berths at the Olympic Games by progressing to the Final, with Japan doing so for a 12th occasion while Uzbekistan created history by achieving their maiden qualification. The pair will be joined by Iraq, who are returning to the international arena for the first time in eight years after defeating Indonesia on Thursday. The latter are now scheduled to battle in the Playoff against Guinea on May 9 in Paris as they seek to end a 68-year absence. 

Preview - Final: Al Ahed FC (LBN) v Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Preview - Final: Al Ahed FC (LBN) v Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Muscat: Al Ahed FC and Central Coast Mariners will both be aiming to create history when they face off in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 final on Sunday.

Lebanon's Al Ahed are seeking to lift the trophy for a second time after emerging champions in 2019 while Central Coast will be bidding to become the first Australian side to win the title in the final season of the AFC Cup.

#U17WAC - Facts And Figures

Sat, 04 May, 2024

#U17WAC - Facts And Figures

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2024 kicks off in Bali on Monday with Group A action.  

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at some interesting facts and figures ahead of the tournament.

Kokubo just one of Japan's heroes, says Oiwa

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Kokubo just one of Japan's heroes, says Oiwa

Doha: Go Oiwa said he had faith Leo Kokubo would save Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s injury time penalty before the Japan goalkeeper made the vital intervention that ensured his team reclaimed the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ title with a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the Doha 2024 final on Friday.

Kokubo threw himself to his right to keep out Rakhmonaliev’s strike after Hiroki Sekine had been judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area deep into added time with the Japanese leading through Fuki Yamada’s fine finish.

Kapadze vows Uzbekistan will bounce back

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Kapadze vows Uzbekistan will bounce back

Doha: Despite creating more chances and seeing more of the ball, Uzbekistan suffered heartbreak on Friday in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ final as they went down 1-0 to a clinical Japan side.

Fuki Yamada’s sole goal in the first minute of added time, coupled with a Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s missed penalty, ended the 2018 winners’ hopes of adding a second title, which were high given their perfect record of five wins from five games in the tournament without conceding a single goal heading into this match. 
 
It was also a second loss in as many finals for Timur Kapadze, who was also at the helm when they lost to Saudi Arabia at the 2022 edition, and the 42-year-old head coach admitted that the failure hurt.

Fujita named MVP

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Fujita named MVP

Doha: Captain Joel Chima Fujita was named the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Most Valuable Player following Japan's 1-0 defeat of Uzbekistan in the final on Friday.

Fujita, 22, played a pivotal role as Japan became the first team to lift the coveted title a second time.

Iraq's Jasim takes Yili Top Scorer award

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Iraq's Jasim takes Yili Top Scorer award

Doha: Midfielder Ali Jasim won the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Yili Top Scorer award on Friday.

Jasim, 20, scored four goals and made two assists as Iraq qualified for the Paris Olympics.

Nematov wins Best Goalkeeper award

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Nematov wins Best Goalkeeper award

Doha: Uzbekistan's Abduvakhid Nematov was named as the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Best Goalkeeper after a sterling campaign for the Central Asian side.

The 23-year-old custodian kept a clean sheet in four of the five matches he appeared in but suffered heartbreak in the final as Uzbekistan were beaten 1-0 by Japan on Friday. 

Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title

Sun, 05 May, 2024

Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title

Doha: Substitute Fuki Yamada struck in the 91st minute and Leo Kokubo made a late penalty save to earn Japan a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan on Friday that secured Go Oiwa’s side the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ title at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Yamada, introduced from the bench with 18 minutes remaining, struck into the bottom corner of Abduvakhid Nematov’s goal before Kokubo kept out Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s spot-kick nine minutes later to earn Japan their second AFC U23 Asian Cup title.
 
The dramatic finish came at the end of a tense encounter and it saw the Japanese win the title for the first time since 2016, when the Samurai Blue also lifted the trophy on Qatari soil.