AFC Executive Committee reiterates commitment to deliver 2021 competitions

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Executive Committee reiterates commitment to deliver 2021 competitions

Manama: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa today acknowledged the commitment and unity of the AFC Member Associations (MAs) towards the resumption of the Asian football calendar in 2021.

Chairing the 7th AFC Executive Committee meeting in Manama, Bahrain, the AFC President said that the highest health standards and protocols implemented during the successful staging of the AFC Champions League 2020 in Doha, Qatar, had provided a comprehensive blueprint to replicate in 2021, and thanked the AFC MAs for their interest in hosting the centralised formats of the upcoming Asian Qualifiers, the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup.
Shaikh Salman said: “The successful completion of the 2020 AFC Champions League has given us a template to approach 2021 with greater confidence and our thanks must go to the Qatar Football Association, the Qatari Authorities and the medical professionals for their commitment and support.

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Air Force Club beat Al Wehda on penalties to confirm AFC Champions League group stage spot

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Air Force Club beat Al Wehda on penalties to confirm AFC Champions League group stage spot

Mekkah: Iraq’s Air Force Club beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Wehda FC 3-2 on penalties after 120 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw at King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in the 2021 AFC Champions League playoff on Wednesday.

The three-time AFC Cup winners left it late to find the back of the net, cancelling Al Wehda’s first-half goal and taking the game to an extra 30 minutes where the two teams could not be separated.

With this win Air Force Club join UAE’s Sharjah FC, Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor and Pakhtakor FC of Uzbekistan in Group B of the 2021 AFC Champions League taking place in Sharjah.

AGMK sink Al Gharafa in extra time to seal AFC Champions League group stage ticket

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AGMK sink Al Gharafa in extra time to seal AFC Champions League group stage ticket

Doha: A last gasp winner from Jovan Djokić secured a slice of history for AGMK FC, sending the Uzbekistan Super League club to the AFC Champions League group stage for the first time with a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Qatar’s Al Gharafa on Wednesday.

Djokić broke through after nearly two hours of a tense but goalless football, with Mirjalol Kasimov’s side missing several chances before finally booking their place in the main draw.

AGMK will join Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC, Shabab Al Ahli of UAE and Tajikistan's FC Istiklol in Group A, which begins in Riyadh next Thursday while Al Gharafa’s participation comes to an abrupt end.

Al Wahda edge Al Zawraa to seal AFC Champions group stage berth

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Wahda edge Al Zawraa to seal AFC Champions group stage berth

Abu Dhabi:  Al Wahda FSCC booked their place in the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage after they came from a goal down to defeat Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC 2-1 in the playoff at Al Nahyan Stadium on Wednesday.

With the win, Al Wahda book their place in Group E, joining Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis FC, Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC and FC Goa of India.

Shot at Olympic history will drive Korea Republic in China PR play-off, says Bell

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Shot at Olympic history will drive Korea Republic in China PR play-off, says Bell

Goyang: Korea Republic head coach Colin Bell believes his side will be motivated by the opportunity to seal a maiden Olympic qualification when they host China PR in the first leg of their women’s Tokyo 2020 qualifying playoff on Thursday.

More than a year after they were originally scheduled to meet, the two sides will finally decide the tournament’s final Asian qualifier over the coming week, with the second leg to be held in Suzhou on Tuesday.

Repeated postponements related to the COVID-19 pandemic may have pushed the 2020 qualifiers well into 2021, but the prize remains the same for Korea Republic, who are eager to make their first major statement since Bell’s appointment in October 2019.

Club Eagles defeat Thimphu City to keep AFC Cup group stage dream alive

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Club Eagles defeat Thimphu City to keep AFC Cup group stage dream alive

Male: Goals from Hassan Raif Ahmed and Mohamed Naim proved decisive as Club Eagles of the Maldives eliminated Bhutan’s Thimphu City with a 2-0 win in the 2021 AFC Cup Preliminary Stage on Wednesday.

Raif Ahmed opened the scoring in the ninth minute, but the hosts had to withstand a second-half recovery from Thimphu before Naim confirmed his side’s progress with a superb late free-kick.

The result extends Club Eagles’ bid to qualify for the group stage, with another sudden death tie against Abahani Limited Dhaka of Bangladesh to follow next Wednesday, while Thimphu’s continental campaign is over as quickly as it begun.

Tribhuvan Army power past SL Police SC to stay on AFC Cup course

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tribhuvan Army power past SL Police SC to stay on AFC Cup course

Kathmandu: Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army FC came from a goal down to beat SL Police SC of Sri Lanka 5-1 to advance to the second round of the 2021 AFC Cup Preliminary Stage on Wednesday.

Head coach Nabin Neupane and his squad will now travel to Goa to face India’s Bengaluru FC next Wednesday in their bid to advance to the group stage.