The 59-year-old former Iraqi international's most recent appointment was as the Iraq national team head coach, with a friendly against Palestine earlier in August his final match in charge.

Qasim also previously handled the Iraq U-17 and U-19 teams as well as several clubs in Iraq and Yemen.

His major success was guiding Air Force Club to their inaugural AFC Cup title in 2016, before leaving shortly after to coach the Iraqi team.

The Falcons went on to secure their second consecutive club Continental title the following year.

The attacking midfielder, from Korea Republic, sits two goals behind the tournament’s leading scorers, Bienvenido Maranon of Ceres Negros and Yangon United’s Sekou Sylla, and one adrift of Persija Jakarta’s Marko Simic – a trio who have all been eliminated from the competition.

Despite his young age, Musa Al Taamari's pace, skill and goals have lit up the 2018 AFC Cup as he drove Al Jazeera into their first ever Zonal Final where they face reigning champions Air Force Club later this month. His impressive displays have been rewarded with a transfer to 27-time Cypriot champions APOEL, perennial contenders in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.

As he takes on the challenge of moving to a new continent, one of Asia's brightest young talents will also be hoping to inspire Jordan to success in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in a few months' time. Al Taamari spoke to the-AFC.com about his AFC Cup memories and ambitions for the future.

The 3-1 aggregate win heals the wounds from their loss to Ceres at the same point of the competition in 2017, and sets up an intriguing clash against DPR Korea side 4.25 SC in the Inter-Zone semi-finals.

Having exited to Ceres at the same stage last year after the Filipino team recorded a 3-2 aggregate win, Home United were determined to go one better in 2018 and avenge a loss which had seen them throw away a first-leg advantage.

Locked at 1-1 from the first leg last week, second half goals from Shakir Hamzah and Song Ui-young sealed the 3-1 aggregate win for the Singaporean side, earning them a spot in the Inter-Zone Semi-finals where they will face DPR Korea powerhouse 4.25 SC.

It was the visitors, who needed to win to defend their ASEAN Zonal title, who started the brighter of the two teams with Carli de Murga heading just wide from Stephan Schrock’s free-kick in the fourth minute.

Schrock attempted to turn provider again just over five minutes later with a cute outside-of-the-foot cross for Patrick Reichelt, but the winger saw his effort well saved by Home United custodian Rudy Khairullah.

Ceres’ Spanish defender Súper came agonisingly close to opening the scoring midway through the first half, but saw his diving header smash off the crossbar as the visitors pushed hard to find the opening goal they needed.

There was another smash late in the half when Reichelt and Rudy collided when challenging for the ball in the box, a collision that saw the Ceres winger stretchered from the field and play stopped for a lengthy period.

From debutants to former champions, 24 Asian nations are gearing for the AFC Asian Cup, and many of them are keeping an eye on how their stars are performing across Asia's two club competitions. Here are six players who have driven their teams into the final stages of the AFC Cup and dream of doing the same with their countries in January.