Doan added to Japan squad

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Doan added to Japan squad

Tokyo: Ritsu Doan has been added to Japan’s squad for their Group B matches in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022 against Vietnam and Oman later this month, the Japan Football Association has announced.

The 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven winger had initially been left out of Hajime Moriyasu’s squad due to a knee injury sustained in the build-up to last month’s meeting with Saudi Arabia, but was called up on Saturday for the games in Hanoi and Muscat.

AFC President hails Muharraq Club for clinching AFC Cup 2021 title

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

AFC President hails Muharraq Club for clinching AFC Cup 2021 title

Arad: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated Bahrain’s Muharraq Club for securing their second AFC Cup crown after the West Asians defeated Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf 3-0 in a thrilling final at the Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Bahrain on Friday.

Shaikh Salman said: “On behalf of the Asian football family, I must congratulate Muharraq Club for their incredible consistency and steadfast perseverance in securing the coveted AFC Cup 2021 title.

“Credit must also be given to everyone at the club, from the backroom staff to the coaches for working tirelessly behind the scenes and I am sure that this victory will inspire the club towards greater achievements in the future.

Muharraq Club emerge champions with masterful display against FC Nasaf

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Muharraq Club emerge champions with masterful display against FC Nasaf

Arad: Muharraq Club bagged the second AFC Cup title in their history, after dispatching 2011 winners FC Nasaf 3-0 in the final to win the 2021 edition at Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium on Friday

Having last won the AFC Cup in 2008, Muharraq join Kuwait SC and Air Force Club of Iraq (3) and Jordan's Al Faisaly (2) as the only clubs to have won multiple AFC Cup titles; they also book their place in the 2022 AFC Champions League.

Muharraq's Abdulwahab Al Maloud named 2021 AFC Cup MVP

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Muharraq's Abdulwahab Al Maloud named 2021 AFC Cup MVP

Arad: Muharraq Club forward Abdulwahab Al Malood enjoyed double glory on Friday, being named the 2021 AFC Cup Most Valuable Player to add to his team’s 3-0 triumph over FC Nasaf to win a second AFC Cup title in their history.

The midfielder played a sterling part in the Bahraini side winning the AFC Cup for a second time with his consistent performances throughout a season which they capped with a dominant 3-0 win over Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf in the final.

Al Maloud started every one of Muharraq’s seven matches in the 2021 AFC Cup, topping the competition’s assist charts, setting up six goals for his teammates, including Mahmoud Al Mardi’s opening goal in the final.

Nasaf's Norchaev wins 2021 AFC Cup Top Scorer award

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Nasaf's Norchaev wins 2021 AFC Cup Top Scorer award

Arad: FC Nasaf forward Khusain Norchaev won the 2021 AFC Cup top scorer award after finishing the campaign with seven goals, two more than his nearest challenger, Ahal FC’s Elman Tagayev.

The 19-year-old entered the history books becoming the youngest player in the competition’s history to be named top scorer, breaking the record of Shabab Al Ordon’s Odai Al Saify, who was the 2007 AFC Cup joint top scorer with five goals aged 21.

Norchaev became the first Uzbek to win the AFC Cup top scorer award and the second Nasaf player after Montenegrin striker Ivan Boskovic in 2011.

Neutral venues for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ confirmed

Fri, 05 Nov, 2021

Neutral venues for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ confirmed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed today the neutral venues for the upcoming AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ fixtures scheduled to take place on November 11 and 16, 2021.

Iraq, who will be looking to extend their two-match unbeaten run in Group A, will face their home ties against Syria and Korea Republic on November 11 and 16 respectively at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

Similarly, China PR will also continue to play their upcoming Group B home encounters against Oman and Australia on November 11 and 16 respectively in a neutral venue at the Sharjah Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.

Australia's Mooy, Rogic to miss Saudi Arabia, Oman ties

Fri, 05 Nov, 2021

Australia's Mooy, Rogic to miss Saudi Arabia, Oman ties

Sydney: Australia will be without key midfield duo Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic when they take on Saudi Arabia and China PR in their crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022 encounters later this month.

Head coach Graham Arnold named a 24-man squad on Friday and was forced to exclude the pair – as well as Cerezo Osaka striker Adam Taggart – as Australia seek to consolidate their position in the automatic qualification berths in Group B for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Al Ramtha end 39-year wait for Jordan league title

Fri, 05 Nov, 2021

Al Ramtha end 39-year wait for Jordan league title

Amman: Al Ramtha were crowned Jordanian Pro League champions for the third time in their history after a 1-1 draw with Al Jazeera in the final round of matches on Thursday.

Al Ramtha finished level on points with Al Wehdat – on 47 -but claimed the title on a superior head-to-head with the 2020 champions.
 
Al Ramtha, who defeated Al Wehdat twice in the league this season, had previously won the title back-to-back in 1981 and 1982.

Stage set for AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 - Pilot Tournament (West) in Jordan

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Stage set for AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 - Pilot Tournament (West) in Jordan

Amman: The AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 – Pilot Tournament (West) is set for another milestone when the Jordan Football Association (JFA) hosts the upcoming edition from November 7 to 13, 2021.

Four women’s clubs will participate in the tournament including hosts Amman Club, FC Bunyodkor from Uzbekistan, Islamic Republic of Iran’s Shahrdari Sirjan and Gokulam Kerala FC from India.
 
As part of efforts to prepare for the impending launch of the game-changing AFC Women’s Champions League, the pilot editions demonstrate the AFC’s commitment and determination to strengthen the foundations for the development and professionalism of women’s football clubs in Asia.
 
The opening match at the Aqaba Development Corporate Stadium will see an exciting encounter between reigning Uzbekistan champions FC Bunyodkor and Shahrdari Sirjan, who clinched the domestic Women’s Football League for the first time.
 
Meanwhile, first-time Indian Women's League winners Gokulam Kerala FC will face Amman Club, who recently clinched their fifth Jordan Women's Football League title. 
 
The four teams will compete in a round-robin league format over three match days – November 7, 10 and 13 – with the top team lifting the title of the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 - Pilot Tournament (West).
 
The AFC will also test the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Light concept in the tournament with the aim of creating more affordable VAR systems which can be used at all levels in football.
 
The first pilot of the AFC Women’s Club Championship was held in 2019 in Yongin, Korea Republic, and won by Nippon TV Beleza of Japan.