Al Thanawi: Oman can be title contenders for Russia 2021

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Thanawi: Oman can be title contenders for Russia 2021

Muscat: Oman's beach soccer team have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and are now among the top teams in Asia vying for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup title.

Oman, who tasted Continental success in 2015 after defeating Asian powerhouse Japan in the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup, have qualified for three of the last five FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups™ under head coach Talib Al Thanawi.

Now as Thanawi prepares his side for their fourth participation, his goal is to break new ground and go beyond the group phase for the first time.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/talib_al_thanawi_-_oman_head_coach .html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/oman_beach_soccer_squad_-_2021.html

2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage – 5 of the Best: Long-Range Goals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage – 5 of the Best: Long-Range Goals

Kuala Lumpur: The 2021 AFC Champions League group stage saw some great goals over the last few months and, with continental action on a temporary break, we've selected some of the very best from various categories.

Kicking off the-AFC.com's '5 of the Best' series, here are five long-range rockets for you to cast your eyes over before telling us which is your favourite by voting at the bottom of the article.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Australia's Olyroos out to shock the world

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Australia's Olyroos out to shock the world

Tokyo: After a 13-year absence Australia are back on the men’s Olympics football stage, now they’re out to become the Tokyo Games’ greatest surprise package.

Having battled travel restrictions, squad upheaval and a dearth of chances to get on to the same pitch, the Olyroos find themselves in arguably the toughest group in the competition, but Graham Arnold’s men have no shortage of belief.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Tokyo: A global powerhouse of the women’s game in the first half of the 2010s, Japan’s rebuild has often been focused on performing at their home Olympics in Tokyo. Now it’s time to deliver.

In the third of our Asian team previews ahead of the football action at this summer’s games, the-AFC.com runs the rule over Asian champions Japan, whose squad combines big-stage experience with outstanding young talent.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Tokyo: Every one of the 11,000 athletes converging on Japan for these most unique of Olympic Games will have overcome some form of adversity, but few will have travelled a road to Tokyo as challenging as the one navigated by the Chinese women’s national team.

In the second of our pre-Olympic previews, join the-AFC.com as we run the rule over Jia Xiuquan’s side who, having performed minor miracles to reach Tokyo 2020, will be determined to challenge a pair of heavyweights in Group G.

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's new era faces first major test under Gustavsson

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's new era faces first major test under Gustavsson

Tokyo: A year later than planned, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are finally within sight, with seven Asian football teams chasing gold across the men’s and women’s competitions.

Before the football action begins on July 21, the-AFC.com is here to tell all you need to know about the continent’s contenders, including their road to Tokyo, their star players and what to expect from their opponents.

The first team in our series is Asia’s highest ranked women’s national team, and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts, Australia, who will be eager to begin a new era in style under head coach Tony Gustavsson.

It’s My Game - Rocky: India 2022 will inspire the nation 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

It’s My Game - Rocky: India 2022 will inspire the nation 

Kuala Lumpur: In the latest Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) ‘It’s My Game’ episode, Maymol Rocky, the first female head coach of the Indian women’s national team, highlights her expectations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 and how it will transform the landscape of women’s football in the country.

Like most women footballers in her country, Rocky, an AFC Coach Education Panel member, started her sports career in athletics. “Football was my second sport but in Goa, if you could run, then you can play football,” said Rocky.