Photo credit: Official AFC Champions League account on platform X.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar fans will be treated for an exciting display of football between At champions Al Duhail and Cristiano Ronaldo-led Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League (ACL), the draw revealed yesterday.
The official draw ceremony, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday pitted the Hernan Crespo-coached Qatar football heavyweights in Group E, together with Iran’s Persepolis FC, Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol and the Saudi powerhouse Al Nassr.
Al Nassr, who reached the semi-finals in both the 2020 and 2021 editions, will be the force to be reckoned with in the group, having seen some of the high-profile recruitments of the season in world football. Apart from the Portuguese five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, their new recruitments also include Ivory Coast international Seko Fofana and Senegal international Sadio Mane. Meanwhile, the 2011 champions Al Sadd SC will start their title hunt in Group B, against Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf, Al Faisaly of Jordan and Sharjah FC of UAE who will be equally gunning to book a place in the knockout stage.
The West Zone’s Group A will be contested by Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor, debutants Al Fayha FC of Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan’s Ahal FC and UAE’s Al Ain FC. In Group C, there will be Al Ittihad, reigning champions of the Saudi Pro League, who are aiming to recapture the ACL title after their back-to-back triumphs in 2004 and 2005.
Al Ittihad, who recently added French stars Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante to their ranks, will be up against Iran’s Sepahan SC, Iraq’s Air Force Club, and Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC who earned the spot after defeating Qatar’s Al Arabi in the play-off on Tuesday.
Last season’s runners-up and four-time Asian champions Al Hilal also found themselves pitted against formidable rivals in Group D, as their star player Neymar braces for his inaugural appearance in the Asian Champions League after joining the Saudi club few days ago.
Group D also includes Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran FC, Mumbai City FC of India and Navbahor of Uzbekistan. The competitions in East Asia region will be led by Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan who will kick off their ACL title defence in Group J which also has Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN), Pohang Steelers (KOR) and Hanoi FC (VIE).
Group F of the East Zone will involve two-time winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea, Thailand’s Bangkok United, Lion City Sailors of Singapore and Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC. Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos, Shandong Taishan FC of China, Philippines’ Kaya FC-Iloilo and Incheon United FC of South Korea make up the Group G cast.
Thailand’s Buriram United, Ventforet Kofu of Japan, Australia’s Melbourne City FC and Zhejiang FC of China will battle it out in Group H while twice winners Ulsan Hyundai FC of South Korea, Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia and Thailand’s BG Pathum United are in the race to advance from Group I.
Group J includes China's Wuhan Three Towns FC, Pohang Steelers of South Korea, Vietnam’s Hanoi FC and Urawa.
