Player to Watch: Akram Afif (Qatar)

Wed, 20 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Akram Afif (Qatar)

Kuala Lumpur: Qatar’s prospects in international football for nearly a decade have been intricately linked with how Akram Afif fares for the Maroons – such has been the influence of the 27-year-old winger who will look to replicate the magic of 2019 at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™.

In the 18th edition of the continental showpiece, Qatar will be defending their maiden title and also have the added weight of expectation as the hosts. There's also a new man in charge, Marquez Lopez, who replaced Carlos Queiroz this month and is their third head coach in under a year. 
 
But several members of the 2019 squad still remain as the mainstays of the team, including captain Hassan Al Haydos, Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Bassam Al Rawi and, of course, Afif who registered a tournament record 10 assists during Qatar’s continental conquest four years ago. 

Player to Watch: Oday Dabbagh (Palestine)

Tue, 19 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Oday Dabbagh (Palestine)

Kuala Lumpur:  Within eight years of making his professional debut with his hometown club Hilal Alquds, Oday Dabbagh has already written his name in the conversation for the honour of Palestine’s greatest-ever footballing product.

Just like Jordan’s Musa Al Taamari, Dabbagh went from scoring goals in the AFC Cup™ to playing in top European leagues and carrying the hopes of his nation ahead of the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023.

Semi-Automated Offside Technology to debut at AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™

Mon, 18 Dec, 2023

Semi-Automated Offside Technology to debut at AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™

Kuala Lumpur: Match officials at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ will be able to enhance their decision-making process with the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) system, which will be implemented at all 51 matches of the tournament.

This marks the first time that SAOT will be in place at an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competition and makes the AFC the first Confederation in world football to apply the system at the Continental Men’s national team level, which further underscores the AFC’s commitment towards improving accuracy and integrity of decision-making by its match officials.

Player to Watch: Jameel Al Yahmadi (Oman)

Mon, 18 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Jameel Al Yahmadi (Oman)

Kuala Lumpur: Four years after making his AFC Asian Cup™ debut as part of the Oman squad that reached the Round of 16 in the UAE, Jameel Al Yahmadi returns as a key member of the team, now that he is in the peak years of his career.

Al Yahmadi broke into the forefront of Omani football as a 20-year-old when the nation hosted the 2017 CISM World Football Cup. He was the standout performer as Oman reached the final and he scored one of the penalties in the shootout win over Qatar to bring home the title for the first time in Oman’s history.
 
Since then, the midfielder, plying his trade at domestic minnows Al Shabab at the time, chose a different path than that typical for Omani players, opting to move to Qatar where he has been playing since 2018, representing the likes of Al Wakrah, Al Shahania and Al Markhiya, before moving to his current club Al Kharaitiyat.

Join the Excitement: Celebrate AFC Asian Cup™'s Magical Moments!

Mon, 18 Dec, 2023

Join the Excitement: Celebrate AFC Asian Cup™'s Magical Moments!

Kuala Lumpur: As the countdown to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ ticks away with just under 26 days left, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) invites football enthusiasts to partake in the exhilarating Magic Moments Bracket Challenge Contest presented by Visit Saudi. 

Unfolding across four gripping rounds starting on 18 December 2023, this contest invites fans to relive the glory of Asian Cup history by voting for their most cherished moments. In each round, fans engage in head-to-head matchups, casting votes for their favorite moments, with the winning magic moment progressing to the next stage. 

Europe Wrap: Kim opens Bayern account; Taremi sends Porto through

Tue, 19 Dec, 2023

Europe Wrap: Kim opens Bayern account; Taremi sends Porto through

Kuala Lumpur: Kim Min-jae scored his first goal in Germany as reigning champions Bayern Munich defeated VfB Stuttgart 3-0 on Sunday and the Korea Republic ace also starred in the Bavarians’ 1-0 win at Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the week. 

Mehdi Taremi was among the scorers for FC Porto as they posted a crucial 5-3 victory against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday which sent them through to the UEFA Champions League last 16 where they will now face Premier League side Arsenal. 
 
Matildas skipper Sam Kerr was on target for Chelsea in England, Bahrain’s Abdulla Yusuf Helal netted in the Czech Republic and Uzbekistan youngster Abdukodir Khusanov put in a solid shift in France, so join the-AFC.com as we find out how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week.