Player to Watch: Takefusa Kubo (Japan)

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Takefusa Kubo (Japan)

Kuala Lumpur: Takefusa Kubo burst onto the global football scene with bags of potential and the 22-year-old Japanese winger has been truly delivering on that promise in recent times. 

After guiding Real Sociedad to a fourth-place finish in La Liga and helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League during his debut campaign, Kubo has maintained his fine form for the Basque club by weighing in with goals and assists in the Spanish top flight so far this season. 
 
Kubo's impressive numbers will be music to the ears of Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu as the Samurai Blue look to go one step further at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ after finishing as runners-up at the 2019 edition.

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Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran)

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran)

Kuala Lumpur: Strikers from the Islamic Republic of Iran have long had to live in the shadow of those who have gone before them, such is the depth of historic talent to have led the line for Team Melli.

But over the last eight years Mehdi Taremi has established himself as a star in his own right for both club and country, joining the greats of Iranian football.

Radulovic returns as Lebanon head coach

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Radulovic returns as Lebanon head coach

Beirut: Miodrag Radulovic, who was head coach between 2015 and 2019, is back in charge of Lebanon. 

The Lebanon Football Association said the 56-year-old former Montenegro head coach replaces Nikola Jurcevic, who stepped down on Saturday after two months in the job. 

#U20WAC draw to set stage for eagerly anticipated Uzbekistan 2024

Tue, 28 Nov, 2023

#U20WAC draw to set stage for eagerly anticipated Uzbekistan 2024

Kuala Lumpur: The final cast of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 will discover their Group Stage opponents on Friday, December 15, 3pm during the official Final Draw ceremony at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

Eight teams will feature at the 11th edition of the tournament, which is set to be hosted by Uzbekistan for the first time and scheduled to run from March 3 to 16, 2024.

Europe Wrap: Son shines for Spurs

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Europe Wrap: Son shines for Spurs

Kuala Lumpur: Captain Son Heung-min came up with a goal and two assists to help Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur bounce back from a four-match winless run by beating Newcastle United 4-1 on Sunday while his compatriot Hwang Hee-chan also netted in England earlier in the week. 

Takefusa Kubo bagged a goal and an assist in Real Sociedad’s 3-0 win against Villarreal on Saturday, taking his tally to six goals and three assists in Spain this season, while Australian midfielder Jackson Irvine was again on the scoresheet for FC St Pauli in the German second division. 
 
Philippines winger Gerrit Holtmann scored his first goal in Turkey since his loan move to Antalyaspor while Hong Hyun-seok was on the mark for Gent in Belgium, so join the-AFC.com as we look at how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week. 

Al Kahrabaa's Salah eyes title

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Al Kahrabaa's Salah eyes title

Basra: Head coach Luay Salah wants Al Kahrabaa Club to aim for the title after they secured progression to the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 West Zonal semi-finals on Monday.

Three goals in the final 13 minutes powered the Iraqi club 3-1 past Al Ittihad Al Ahli Aleppo of Syria as Al Kahrabaa finished top of Group B with 13 points. 

Odisha hero Fall dedicates goal to new-born twins

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Odisha hero Fall dedicates goal to new-born twins

Bhubaneswar: Mourtada Fall dedicated his goal to his new-born twins after the Senegalese's solitary effort steered Odisha FC into the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Inter-Zone semi-finals for the first time on Monday. 

Fall scored with a powerful header in the 61st minute as India's Odisha edged Bashundhara Kings 1-0 to finish as the Group D winners on 12 points, two ahead of their Bangladeshi opponents. 

Preview - 1st Round: Al Ittihad (KSA) v Auckland City (NZL)

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Preview - 1st Round: Al Ittihad (KSA) v Auckland City (NZL)

Jeddah: Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad FC are determined to impress when they take on Auckland City of New Zealand in their FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 first round match on Tuesday.

Returning to the competition for the first time since 2005, the reigning Saudi Pro League champions will be counting on Marcelo Gallardo to lead them to glory on home soil.

The Argentine took over head coach duties in the middle of November and helped Al Ittihad seal qualification to the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 knockout stage.