Belmadi eyes glory after Al Duhail seal League Stage berth

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

Belmadi eyes glory after Al Duhail seal League Stage berth

Doha: Al Duhail SC head coach Djamel Belmadi has eyes fixed on winning silverware this season after the Qatari side booked their place in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 League Stage with a 3-2 win over Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC on Tuesday.

First half strikes from Ibrahima Bamba, Adil Boulbina and Krzysztof Piatek saw off a spirited challenge from the Islamic Republic of Iran side as Al Duhail confirmed their return to the continental stage after having missed out last season.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3106170

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3106172

Seo vows that Chengdu will hold their own against Asia’s best

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

Seo vows that Chengdu will hold their own against Asia’s best

Chengdu: Head coach Seo Jung-won was delighted to see his Chengdu Rongcheng FC side reach the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 League Stage, hailing his players sharpness in the 3-0 win against Bangkok United on Tuesday.

After a goalless first half, Yang Mingyang headed Chengdu in front in the 68th minute before a brace from Felipe settled the contest, with Seo pleased to see his plan come to fruition.

PS - Al Duhail SC (QAT) 3-2 Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC (IRN)

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

PS - Al Duhail SC (QAT) 3-2 Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC (IRN)

Al Rayyan: Qatar Stars League side Al Duhail overturned an early deficit to hand Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC a 3-2 defeat in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 Preliminary Stage on Tuesday.

Amin Hazbavi gave the side from the Islamic Republic of Iran a third minute lead but goals from Ibrahima Bamba, Adil Boulbina and Krzysztof Piatek by the 33rd minute saw Djamel Belmadi’s outfit secure victory. Milad Zakipour scored a late consolation for Sepahan.

 

The result means Al Duhail will be one of the 12 clubs participating in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite from West Asia, with the draw due to take place in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

PS - Chengdu Rongcheng FC (CHN) 3-0 Bangkok United (THA)

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

PS - Chengdu Rongcheng FC (CHN) 3-0 Bangkok United (THA)

Chengdu: Chengdu Rongcheng secured their place in the League Stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 on Tuesday with Seo Jung-won’s hosts scoring twice in three second half minutes on their way to a 3-0 win over Bangkok United in their preliminary stage showdown.

Yang Mingyang and Felipe netted in the 68th and 71st minutes respectively to break the Thai League 1 side’s resistance before the Brazilian forward added a late third to take the Chinese Super League side into the group phase for the first time in the club’s history.

Chengdu head coach Seo, who won the Asian Club Championship twice as a player with Suwon Samsung Bluewings, will join the 11 other clubs in the draw for the league phase of the competition in the eastern half of the draw, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

PS - Al-Karamah SC (SYR) 0-1 Bashundhara Kings (BAN)

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

PS - Al-Karamah SC (SYR) 0-1 Bashundhara Kings (BAN)

Doha: An Emmanuel Sunday strike secured Bashundhara Kings progress into the AFC Challenge League™ 2025/26 after the Bangladesh side edged Syria’s Al-Karamah SC 1-0 in their Preliminary Stage tie on Tuesday.

Having sealed qualification, Bashundhara will now await the Group Stage draw on August 28 with head coach Mahabub Hossain aiming to improve on last season’s performance.

PS - FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ) 5-2 Hutteen SC (SYR)

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

PS - FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ) 5-2 Hutteen SC (SYR)

Bishkek: A dominant performance from FC Abdysh-Ata saw the Kyrgyz Republic side overpower Hutteen SC 5-2 in their AFC Challenge League™ 2025/26 Preliminary Stage clash on Tuesday.

A hat-trick by Evgenii Kozlov and one apiece from Erbol Atabaev and Mirabdulla Abbasov at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium ensured Abdysh-Ata made the Group Stage for a second consecutive time.