LATEST NEWS - LFA

#AFCU20 Qualifiers draw finalised

Thu, 13 Jun, 2024

#AFCU20 Qualifiers draw finalised

Kuala Lumpur: The draw for the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ 2025 Qualifiers concluded at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

The 45 teams were divided into 10 groups - five of four each and five of five each - with the Qualifiers to be played between September 21 and 29, 2024.

The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to the Finals, with China PR scheduled to host the tournament.

#AFCU17 Qualifying groups decided

Thu, 13 Jun, 2024

#AFCU17 Qualifying groups decided

Kuala Lumpur: The draw for the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ 2025 Qualifiers was finalised at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

The 43 teams were divided into 10 groups - seven of four each and three of five - with the Qualifiers to be played between October 19 and 27, 2024.

The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to the Finals, with Saudi Arabia scheduled to host the tournament.

Group I: Lebanon cap campaign with win

Wed, 12 Jun, 2024

Group I: Lebanon cap campaign with win

Doha: Lebanon wrapped up their matches in Group I of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ in style, beating Bangladesh 4-0 at Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.

The result means the Cedars finish third with six points, just two behind Palestine who accompanied Australia to the third round of World Cup qualifiers, while Bangladesh could not add to their solitary point, collected from the reverse fixture in Dhaka back in November.

Preview - Group I: Australia v Palestine; Lebanon v Bangladesh

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Preview - Group I: Australia v Palestine; Lebanon v Bangladesh

Perth: Australia and Palestine are set for an exciting showdown when they two sides meet in Group H of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday.

Both have secured their places in the next round with Australia winning all five of their group matches, while Palestine created history when they booked their spot with a draw on Matchday Five.

Group I: Palestine 0-0 Lebanon

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group I: Palestine 0-0 Lebanon

Doha:  Victory eluded them but that didn’t matter to Palestine as their goalless draw with Lebanon in Group I of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday saw them create history.

The point was enough for Palestine to seal their passage to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time as well as book their spot in the AFC Asian Cup Finals for the fourth consecutive edition.

Preview - Group I: Palestine v Lebanon; Bangladesh v Australia

Wed, 05 Jun, 2024

Preview - Group I: Palestine v Lebanon; Bangladesh v Australia

Doha: Lebanon have a golden opportunity to revive their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group I campaign when they face history-chasing Palestine on Thursday.

Miodrag Radulovic’s side are third in the standings, five points adrift of second placed Palestine, after their 5-0 setback on Matchday Four against leaders Australia, who are through to the next round.

Palestine, however, are on the verge of creating history as they have never progressed past the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

We tried but Mariners were better, admits Al Ahed's Mohamad

Mon, 06 May, 2024

We tried but Mariners were better, admits Al Ahed's Mohamad

Muscat: Raafat Mohamad admitted defeat in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 final was a bitter fact to accept but was nonetheless proud of Al Ahed FC's drive and determination in Sunday's final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

Seeking to win the AFC Cup for a second time, Lebanon's Al Ahed had to be satisfied with a second place finish following Alou Kuol's late winner for Australia's Central Coast Mariners.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/video/afccup_-_final_|_al_ahed_lbn_0_-_1_central_coast_mariners_aus.html

Kuol strike secures Central Coast Mariners historic title

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Kuol strike secures Central Coast Mariners historic title

Muscat: Central Coast Mariners were crowned AFC Cup™ 2023/24 champions after defeating Lebanon's Al Ahed FC 1-0 thanks to a late Alou Kuol strike at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Sunday.

On their debut in the competition, Mariners became just the second Australian club to win an AFC competition, a decade after Western Sydney Wanderers won the AFC Champions League™ on their own debut.
 
The final marked the last-ever game in the AFC Cup which will make way for the three-tier AFC competitions from next season; the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League 2 and AFC Challenge League.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/photo/final_al_ahed_fc_lbn_v_central_coast_mariners_aus.html

Preview - Final: Al Ahed FC (LBN) v Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Preview - Final: Al Ahed FC (LBN) v Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Muscat: Al Ahed FC and Central Coast Mariners will both be aiming to create history when they face off in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 final on Sunday.

Lebanon's Al Ahed are seeking to lift the trophy for a second time after emerging champions in 2019 while Central Coast will be bidding to become the first Australian side to win the title in the final season of the AFC Cup.

#AFCCup: Al Ahed FC - Road to the Final

Thu, 02 May, 2024

#AFCCup: Al Ahed FC - Road to the Final

Muscat: Twenty years since it started, the AFC Cup™ reaches its end point with Lebanon’s Al Ahed competing against Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in the final of the 2023/24 edition, the last before it makes way for the AFC's new club competitions structure.

While this is the maiden appearance for the Australian side, very few teams have been as ever-present as Al Ahed, who appeared in the AFC Cup 12 times. The current iteration of the team had a rollercoaster ride of a season, taking them to the final. The-AFC.com relives the journey of the team from Beirut to Sunday’s final.