Jazira, Wihdat prepare for AFC events

AMMAN — Jazira, Wihdat and possibly That Ras will represent Jordanian clubs in Asian Club competitions this season.

Jordan Professional League champs Wihdat will play the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League and will face Kuwait’s Qadissieh on February 10 in the preliminary round. If Wihdat wins, they will advance to play Saudi Arabia’s Ahli a week later before advancing to play in the group stages.

After two-time AFC Cup champs and league runner-up Faisali declined, third-place Jazira were nominated to take part for the first time. 

In case Wihdat advance in the Champions League league’s fourth placed team, That Ras, will take their place in the 12th AFC Cup alongside Jazira.

The Cup will have 41 clubs from across the continent competing in eight groups with the top two from each group going on to the Round of 16.

Jazira coach Issa Turk said his team was readying to play in Group 2
alongside Palestine’s Wadi Nays and Iraq’s Shurta with play kicking off on February 24.

“Injuries continue to plague the team so we are focusing on the fitness aspect. One positive side is the return of players from the U-23 to our squad after national duty.”

Wihdat were also preparing for the Asian Champions League, and the team lost 5-2 to the U-23 squad in a friendly as the rest of the line-up was on national duty at the Asian Cup.

Last year, first time AFC Cup competitors Jordan Cup champs That Ras exited the Round of 16 while former AFC Cup champs Shabab Urdun took part exiting in Round 1. Shabab Urdun were also eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Hidd in their preliminary round of the AFC Champions League.

The second-tier Asian club competition was won by Syria’s Jeish in its inaugural edition in 2004. Jordan’s Faisali won in 2005 and 2006, and Shabab Urdun won their first Asian title in 2007.