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Exquisite new trophy unveiled for landmark #AWCL

Thu, 18 Jul, 2024

Exquisite new trophy unveiled for landmark #AWCL

Kuala Lumpur: The latest milestone in the evolution of women’s football in Asia was fittingly marked by the reveal of the stunning new AFC Women’s Champions League™ trophy on Thursday afternoon.

The exquisite silverware was unveiled at the official draw ceremony for the Preliminary Stage and Group Stage for the maiden 2024/25 season by AFC Women’s Football Committee Chairperson, Ms. Kanya Keomany, with Japanese icon Mana Iwabuchi in attendance.

#AWCL pathway determined

Thu, 18 Jul, 2024

#AWCL pathway determined

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 hopefuls learnt their path to glory following the conclusion of the draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

The inaugural season kicks off with the preliminary stage which saw 13 teams divided into four groups. Matches will be played between August 25 and August 31.

Marinos part ways with Kewell

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

Marinos part ways with Kewell

Yokohama: Yokohama F Marinos terminated the contract of head coach Harry Kewell on Tuesday, the former Japanese champions have announced.

The former Australian international was appointed to the job in December 2023, and led the team to the final of the AFC Champions League 2023/24™ but disappointing results on the domestic front forced the change.

#AWCL draw to mark battle lines for maiden season

Wed, 10 Jul, 2024

#AWCL draw to mark battle lines for maiden season

Kuala Lumpur: The Continent’s top women’s football clubs will discover their pathway to glory in the historic AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 season on Thursday, July 18 at the official draw ceremony for both the Preliminary Stage and Group Stage.

Set to take place at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House in Kuala Lumpur at 3pm, 21 teams will be involved as they gear up for the landmark inaugural edition, which will commence in August.

Maiden AFC Challenge League™ to spark new rivalries

Wed, 19 Jun, 2024

Maiden AFC Challenge League™ to spark new rivalries

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today confirmed the initial line-up of the first ever AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) ahead of its kick-off next month.

Introduced as part of the revamped AFC Club Competitions structure, the new third-tier Continental men’s competition will bring together 18 aspiring teams to contend for glory.

Entries confirmed for AFC Champions League Two™ 2024-25

Wed, 19 Jun, 2024

Entries confirmed for AFC Champions League Two™ 2024-25

Kuala Lumpur: The pathway towards the inaugural AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) season was unveiled today by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), with 32 teams competing for top honours in the Continent’s brand-new second-tier men’s club competition.

In accordance with the finalised AFC Club Competitions 2024/25 slot allocations and club licensing requirements, 27 teams from across 21 Member Associations (MAs) – 12 from the West region and 15 from the East – qualify directly to the Group Stage, along with the three teams (two West, one East) that will be eliminated from the Preliminary Stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™.

AFC Champions League Elite™ unveils top-class lineup for inaugural season

Thu, 27 Jun, 2024

AFC Champions League Elite™ unveils top-class lineup for inaugural season

Kuala Lumpur: The cream of the crop in Asia will come together for the maiden campaign of the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) this August when the prestigious competition kicks off.

The initial cast for the debut 2024/25 season was confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in accordance with the finalised AFC Club Competitions 2024/25 slot allocations that features 27 teams from across 12 Member Associations (MAs) – six from each of the West and East regions.

Landmark AFC Women’s Champions League™ to kick off with 22 clubs

Fri, 14 Jun, 2024

Landmark AFC Women’s Champions League™ to kick off with 22 clubs

Kuala Lumpur: Heralding a new era of success and progress for women’s football in Asia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed today the number of participating teams for the highly-anticipated inaugural season of the AFC Women’s Champions League™, which will get underway in August.

Twenty-two Member Associations (MAs) who have expressed interest in taking part will each be represented by one club for the landmark 2024/25 campaign of the showpiece, which was announced last August.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two/video/afc_champions_league_two_202425.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite/video/afc_champions_league_elite_202425.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_womens_champions_league/video/afc_womens_champions_league.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league/video/afc_challenge_league_202425.html

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Vote for your #ACL 2023-24 Magic Moment

Mon, 03 Jun, 2024

Vote for your #ACL 2023-24 Magic Moment

Kuala Lumpur: The final edition of the AFC Champions League™ in its current format came to a conclusion on May 25 when Al Ain defeated Yokohama F. Marinos in the second leg of this season’s final. 

It has been a season like no other with global superstars debuting in the continental competition which as usual delivered outstanding moments over the course of the season. 

After the conclusion of another thrilling edition, the-AFC.com picks the Magic Moments and asks you, the fans, to cast your vote for the favourite. 

#ACL 2023/24: The Stats Leaders

Thu, 30 May, 2024

#ACL 2023/24: The Stats Leaders

Kuala Lumpur: After Al Ain FC’s victory over Yokohama F. Marinos in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 final brought to a close the last edition of the tournament in its current format, the-AFC.com takes an in-depth look at the numbers and players that excelled during the campaign.

There were many exceptional performers in another memorable chapter of Asia's top-tier club competition as we analyse the stats to assess some of the key categories and those who stood out.

#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: What They Said

Wed, 29 May, 2024

#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: What They Said

Kuala Lumpur: With a comprehensive 5-1 win in Al Ain on Saturday, Al Ain FC overcame Yokohama F. Marinos 6-3 on aggregate to claim the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 trophy.

The Japanese side had a narrow advantage following a 2-1 triumph in Yokohama, but a sensational second leg performance in Al Ain meant the inaugural winners of the AFC Champions League lifted their second title after a 21-year wait.

As the 2023/24 edition concludes, the-AFC.com reviews what some of those involved had to say about the competition’s finale.

#ACL Final: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Tue, 28 May, 2024

#ACL Final: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: The curtain came down on the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Saturday as Al Ain FC were crowned kings of Asia following a 5-1 second-leg victory over Yokohama F. Marinos that saw them run out 6-3 winners on aggregate.

The final also brought to a close the competition in its current format as Asian club football heads into an exciting new era next season with the launch of the AFC Champions League Elite™ and the AFC Champions League 2™.

As continental club football takes a break until the new tournaments begin, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the stats and facts from the second leg of the final.

Vote for your #ACL NEOM Future Star

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Vote for your #ACL NEOM Future Star

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 delivered in spectacular fashion following the conclusion of a campaign that started back on 15 August 2023 and drew the curtain with the climax in Al Ain on 25 May 2024. 

After Al Ain’s win over Yokohama F. Marinos in the final, the-AFC.com now looks to the future and the younger generation of stars that have risen to prominence during the tournament by asking you, the fans, to select the NEOM Future Star of the 2023/24 edition. 

We’ve selected six nominees who have made their career breakthroughs at the AFC Champions League 2023/24 so study through the candidates and vote for your favourite NEOM Future Star at the foot of the article. 

Crespo: Al Ain's triumph due to self belief

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Crespo: Al Ain's triumph due to self belief

Al Ain: His players gatecrashed the post-match press conference to honour him but as far as Hernan Crespo was concerned, Saturday's AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 triumph was the result of a collective effort.

The side from the United Arab Emirates were simply unstoppable as Crespo's players did exactly what he had promised they would - turn the pressure on in front of their adoring fans.

The end result was an emphatic 5-1 win at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, with Al Ain triumphing 6-3 on aggregate to lift the trophy for a second time after having waited for 21 years.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_final_2nd_leg_|_al_ain_fc_uae_5_-1_yokohama_f_marinos_jpn.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/photo/final_2nd_leg_al_ain_fc_uae_v_yokohama_f_marinos_jpn__1.html

Al Ain's Rahimi wins MVP, Top Scorer awards

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Al Ain's Rahimi wins MVP, Top Scorer awards

Al Ain: Soufiane Rahimi won the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards, his 13 goals playing a pivotal role in Al Ain FC winning the title on Saturday.

The Moroccan scored twice in the 5-1 win against Yokohama F. Marinos in Saturday's second leg, as the side from the United Arab Emirates emerged winners for the second time after having lifted the title in the inaugural edition in 2003.

Al Ain claim historic second title

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Al Ain claim historic second title

Al Ain: Doubles from Soufiane Rahimi and Kodjo Laba drove United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC to win the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 title following a 5-1 victory over Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos in the second leg of the final at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday.

The J1 League side had won the first leg 2-1 in Yokohama, but a scintillating second-half performance from Al Ain meant the inaugural winners of the AFC Champions League in 2002-03 become also the last team to win it under the current format before the launch of the AFC Champions League Elite next year.

Following their continental triumph, Al Ain become Asia’s fourth representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, joining Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and Korea Republic’s Ulsan HD at the US tournament next year.

#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: 5 things to look out for

Sat, 25 May, 2024

#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: 5 things to look out for

Al Ain: The winners of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 will be crowned on Saturday after the second leg of the final between the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC and Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan.

F. Marinos came from a goal down in the first leg to win 2-1 at Yokohama International Stadium two weeks ago, so hold a slender advantage going into the return meeting at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

With the kick-off just a few hours away, the-AFC.com has selected five things to look out for.

Preview - Final (2nd Leg): Al Ain FC (UAE) 1 v 2 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Preview - Final (2nd Leg): Al Ain FC (UAE) 1 v 2 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Al Ain: Al Ain FC will head into the return leg of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 final confident of lifting the coveted title.

The 2003 AFC Champions League winners lost the first leg 2-1 to Yokohama F. Marinos two weeks ago but the side from the United Arab Emirates believe home ground advantage will take them past their Japanese opponents.