Wihdat, Faisali upbeat for 2016 AFC Cup

By Aline Bannayan - Dec 10,2015 - Last updated at Dec 10,2015

AMMAN — Jordan’s Wihdat and Faisali will represent the Kingdom in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup next season.

Round 1 matches will kick off on February 23 and run until May 24. Wihdat were drawn in Group A alongside Lebanon’s Al Ahed, Altyn Asyr from Turkmenistan and a play-off winner.

Faisali were drawn in Group B, alongside Iraq’s Nafit Al Wasat, Turkmenistan’s Istiklol and a play-off winner .

This season, Jordan’s Wihdat will also play Saudi Arabia’s Ittihad on February 9 in the premier Asian competition — the 2016 Asian Champions League (ACL) in the West’s play-off stage. If they advance past the preliminary round, Jazira will replace them in the AFC. Last year, Wihdat were knocked out in the ACL preliminary round by former titleholders Kuwait’s Qadissieh. In 2014, Shabab Urdun were eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Hidd.

Two-time AFC Cup champs Faisali declined to play last season and were replaced by Jazira, who took part for the first time. In 2013, first time AFC Cup competitors Jordan Cup champs That Ras exited the round of 16.

The 13th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2015 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.

Jordan’s Faisali won titles in 2005 and 2006, and Shabab Urdun won in 2007.

Jordanian teams competing in AFC Cup:

2005Faisali, Hussein

2006Faisali, Wihdat

2007Faisali Wihdat, Shabab Urdun,

2008Wihdat, Shabab Urdun

2009Faisali, Wihdat

2010Wihdat, Shabab Urdun

2011Faisali, Wihdat

2012Faisali, Wihdat

2013Faisali, Ramtha

2014That Ras, Shabab Urdun