Al Dawsari among injured trio to miss Saudi Arabia’s ties against Japan, China PR

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Dawsari among injured trio to miss Saudi Arabia’s ties against Japan, China PR

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia national team head coach Hervé Renard will be without three key players for the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar matches against Japan and China PR next month.

Abdullah Otayf, Salem Al Dawsari and Mohammed Al Burayk were all left out due to injuries while Abdullah Al Hamdan and Ali Al Asmari were dropped by Renard.

Latest update on the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Latest update on the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed Qatar as the neutral venue for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ Group A tie between Iraq and Lebanon as well as the Group B match between Australia and Oman scheduled for Thursday, October 7, 2021.

The Socceroos, who are the current Group B leaders after registering successive victories in September’s opening round of matches, as well as Iraq, who have registered a point in Group A, will both continue to play their home matches in a neutral venue.

Both matches will be played at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha with the Iraq and Lebanon showdown taking place at 5:30pm (local time) before Australia and Oman face-off four hours later.

Meanwhile, Korea Republic’s Group A home tie against opponents Syria scheduled for October 7, will be held at the Ansan Wa Stadium at 8:00pm (local time).

Jeonbuk's Song Bum-keun earns first call up to Korea Republic squad for AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Jeonbuk's Song Bum-keun earns first call up to Korea Republic squad for AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar

Seoul: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors goalkeeper Song Bum-keun has earned his first call up for Korea Republic as he joins a returning Son Heung-min in Paulo Bento’s squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar matches against Syria and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Song, who helped his club reach the quarter-finals of the 2021 AFC Champions League earlier this month, is the only uncapped player in the 27-man squad selected by Bento for the games on October 7 and October 12.

Tottenham’s Son returns to the squad after pulling out of the game against Lebanon on September 7 having aggravating a calf injury during the 0-0 draw with Iraq in their opening game of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Oman beat Nepal in friendly to kick off preparation for AFC Asian Qualifiers

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Oman beat Nepal in friendly to kick off preparation for AFC Asian Qualifiers

Doha: Oman registered an impressive 7-2 win against Nepal in an international friendly match at the Qatar University Pitch on Sunday.

Oman are preparing for their next two matches in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar,  Australia on October 7 and Vietnam five days later.

Fabio Cannavaro leaves Guangzhou FC

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Fabio Cannavaro leaves Guangzhou FC

Hong Kong: Two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou FC have parted company with head coach Fabio Cannavaro by mutual consent, the Chinese Super League outfit announced on Tuesday.

The Italian, who was in his second stint with the club, had been due to return to Guangzhou last Thursday having led his squad through the first phase of the Chinese Super League campaign earlier in the year.

His failure to arrive in China as scheduled sparked media speculation he was leaving the club almost four years after joining Guangzhou for a second time following an initial seven-month spell from November 2014 to June 2015.

Polking named Thailand men's national team head coach

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Polking named Thailand men's national team head coach

Bangkok: Alexandre Polking will lead the Thailand men's national team as head coach replacing Japanese Akira Nishino, the Thailand Football Association announced on Tuesday.

The former Ho Chi Minh CIty head coach takes over the reins from Nishino, who left the post in July, ahead of the delayed 2020 AFF Cup in December and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifiers.

India set for friendlies in UAE, Bahrain

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

India set for friendlies in UAE, Bahrain

New Delhi: Head coach Thomas Dennerby has named a 23-member squad as India's preparation for the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 moves into high gear.

India, who will host the continental showpiece on January 20-February 6, will play four friendly matches over the coming days.