Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Chinese Super League (CSL) top-scorer Wu Lei, who has been linked with a transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers, says he would move abroad for the right offer.
The 27-year-old was named CSL player of the year on Wednesday after hitting 27 goals to help Shanghai SIPG to their maiden league title.
The Chinese international was linked over the summer with English Premier League side Wolves, who are owned by the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/wu_lei-china_pr-afp_1.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The challenge for the group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League was finalised following the competition’s official draw in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis, who lost 2-0 to Kashima Antlers on aggregate in this year’s final, will begin their campaign in the West Zone’s Group D where they have Qatar's Al Saad SC, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli Saudi FC and the Play-off 1 (UAE/UZB/IRQ) winners for company.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) flagship club competitions – the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup – are to become more lucrative next season with participating teams to receive double the travel contribution across all stages in the upcoming 2019 season.
In the AFC Champions League – which is already one of the richest continental competitions in world football – clubs stand to earn over US$60,000 per match from the group stage to the semi-finals, with the total contribution rising from US$4.2 million last year to US$8.4 million next year.
Meanwhile, in the AFC Cup, the total travel contribution has doubled from US$2.94 million in 2018 to US$5.88 million in 2019.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: After over 1.3 Million votes from Asia’s football fans on the-AFC.com, Kitchee SC’s Cheng Chin Lung has been selected as the winner of the best goal of 2018 AFC Champions League
The 20-year-old Hong Konger scored a dramatic winner in Matchday Four against Kashiwa Reysol that ensured a historic first AFC Champions League win for both his club Kitchee SC and, indeed, the first victory in the competition for Hong Kong.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Kashima Antlers' season just keeps getting better after the J.League side advanced to the 2018 Emperor's Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.
Fresh from winning the 2018 AFC Champions League - their first Continental crown - Kashima will face Urawa Red Diamonds in the Emperor's Cup semi-finals on December 5.
Should Kashima defeat Urawa - which will be a meeting between the last two AFC Champions League winners - they will face Vegalta Sendai or Montedio Yamagata in the final four days later.
The Emperor's Cup is important to both Kashima and Urawa as emerging champions would mean automatic entry to the group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: The 2018 AFC Champions League final didn't go according to plan but Persepolis head coach Branko Ivankovic said there was victory in defeat for the Islamic Republic of Iran side.
The fact that his players and the team's fans gave it their all meant Persepolis had won despite Kashima Antlers holding them to a 0-0 draw to seal their first AFC Champions League title with a 2-0 win on aggregate.
"I am so proud of my players, they tried so hard and put all their energy into the match. They are winners," said Ivankovic.
"I am also so proud of the great atmosphere, the Persepolis fans showed they are the best and we appreciate them."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Yuma Suzuki of Kashima Antlers was crowned the 2018 AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Tehran on Saturday.
Suzuki's performances in the 2018 AFC Champions League played a pivotal role in Kashima's surge to the title for the first time, with the 22-year-old striker - with two goals to his name - having developed a solid understanding with Brazilian Serginho.
"I am really, really happy with the fact that I was selected for the ACL MVP. but this award is not just about myself but it’s the result of the team performance," said Suzuki.