Shabab Al Ahli, who won the UAE League Cup for a fifth time, prevailed 5-4 in the penalty shootout after the final ended 0-0 as Mahdi Ali became the first local coach to win the title.

One of the West Zone’s most interesting groups will be found in the United Arab Emirates, where Sharjah will welcome Uzbekistan Super League holders FC Pakhtakor, Iranian Cup winners FC Tractor and Air Force Club of Iraq, who sealed their place with a thrilling play-off win earlier this week.

Ahead of Wednesday’s kick-off, allow the-AFC.com to bring you up to speed with the venue, star players and the group’s context.

In the competition’s expanded format of 40 teams playing in 10 groups, with the group winners in addition to the best six runners-up advancing to the Round of 16, competition will be more intense than ever to book a place in the knock-out stages.

The UAE side have never lost an AFC Champions League playoff game, having beaten Indonesia’s Sriwijaya FC in 2011, Bahrain’s Malkiya SC in 2018 and Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor last year.

Foolad, on the other side, have never contested a playoff match, having appeared in one edition before qualifying playoffs were introduced and qualified to the group stage directly in two subsequent appearances.

The decision came just hours after Al Nassr’s 3-2 defeat to Dhamk in Round 25 of the Saudi Pro League on Friday, the club’s ninth defeat of the season.

Former Brazil national team head coach Menezes takes charge of Al Nassr just days before they begin their 2021 AFC Champions League campaign.

Over the last six weeks football watchers in their tens of thousands have cast their votes for more than 60 shortlisted players from Asia and beyond, and in every position.

The result is today’s AFC All-time XI – A celebration of the greats who have graced the tournament since its inception in 2004, collecting 10 winners’ medals and scoring over 130 AFC Cup goals between them.

There are legends everywhere you look, so join the-AFC.com in paying tribute to the achievements of our Dream Team, while possibly lamenting the fact that they’ll never play together in a real match.

With an Australian hat-trick in England, Iranian goalkeeping heroics in Portugal and a Japanese double act in Belgium just a sample of the memorable contributions, there are several worthy candidates for this week’s crown.

But who was the week’s outstanding Asian player abroad? We’ve narrowed it down to a 10-player shortlist, based on performances from April 1 to 7.

Take a look at the nominees below and don’t forget to cast your vote.