Wihdat prepare for Asian Champions League match

AMMAN — Jordan’s Wihdat have started the countdown to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2016 Asian Champions League in which they are set to play Saudi Arabia’s Ittihad Jeddah in the preliminary round on February 8.

Wihdat have been the Jordan Professional League champions for the past two consecutive years and only have the league title in contention this season, as they stand in fourth position, being led by Faisali, Shabab Al Urdun and Ahli.  Wihdat were also eliminateed from the Jordan Cup and conceding the Super Cup this season. 

As league champs, Wihdat were Jordan’s representative in the premier Asian competition last season as well and were knocked out in the preliminary round by former titleholders Kuwait’s Qadissieh. In 2014, Shabab Urdun were eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Hidd.

In addition to the Asian Champions League (ACL), Jordan’s Wihdat and Faisali will represent the Kingdom at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup this season. If Wihdat advance past the ACL preliminary round, Jazira will replace them in the AFC Cup.

Last year, Jordanian teams were absent from advanced stages of Asian competitions as Wihdat and Jazira were knocked out of the AFC Cup Round of 16. While it was the first time for Jazira, who finished runner-up in the Jordan League and participated in the event after two-time AFC Cup champs and Faisali declined, Wihdat were hoping to advance and win the AFC Cup for the first time after taking part eight times. 

In 2014, Jordan Cup champs That Ras exited the Round of 16 in their inaugural AFC participation while former AFC Cup champs Shabab Urdun exited in Round 1. 

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