MUSCAT, AUG 24
Oman league champions Al Nahda were placed in Group A along with 2019 champions Lebanese Al Ahed as the group stage draws for the AFC Cup were completed at the AFC headquarters in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
The group further features Syrian contenders Al Fatwa and Palestinian stalwarts Jabal al Mukaber, ensuring an intense showdown.
The West Zone teams will start their campaign in Groups A, B and C, with the three group winners and best runners-up advancing to the Zonal semifinals.
Al Nahda mark their fifth entry into the tournament. Their standout performance was witnessed in the 2008 edition, where they reached the semifinals but narrowly missed out on a place in the final after being edged out by Bahrain's Al Muharraq.
The Kuwaiti Club, a three-time title holders, found themselves in the dynamic Group B line-up. Standing alongside them are Jordanian powerhouse Al Wehdat, Iraqi Al Kahraba, and Syrian force Al Ittihad Al Ahly, the champions of the 2010 edition.
Meanwhile, Group C witnesses the presence of Iraqi contender Al Zawraa, Bahraini challenger Al Riffa, Lebanese competitor Al Arabi, and Kuwaiti representative Al Najma.
The 19th edition of the AFC Cup marks a historic shift, as it transitions to a system running from autumn to spring. The tournament, which spans from September 2023 to May 2024, showcases 36 clubs from the five AFC regions across nine riveting groups.
Breaking new ground, Australian clubs feature in the AFC Cup for the first time ever. Macarthur Club and Central Coast Mariners will carry the Australian flag in the competition.
Macarthur find themselves in Group F of the Asean region, squaring off against Dynamic Herb Cebu of the Philippines, Chan United of Myanmar, and Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia. Meanwhile, Central Coast Mariners land in Group G, where they will contend with Terengganu of Malaysia, Bali United of Indonesia, and Stallion Laguna of the Philippines.
The top team from each group, along with the best-performing second-placed team, earn coveted spots in the West region semifinals. The same principle applies to the Asean region, culminating in two semifinal victors advancing to represent their regions in the ultimate
showdown.
The Asean region champions secure a spot in the regional semifinals, joining the winners of Group D (South), Group E (Central), and Group I (East).
An exciting twist awaits as a draw will determine the match-ups leading to the regional finals.
The victors of these duels will face off in the regional final, with the ultimate aim of securing a shot at the West region winner in the grand finale of the AFC Cup 2023-2024, scheduled for May 5, 2024.
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