Wihdat, Faisali aim to secure AFC Cup qualification

AMMAN – Jordan's Faisali will seek to come out triumphant and advance while compatriots Wihdat have a tougher task in Tuesday's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup matches

 Wihdat will play Bahrain's Hidd and await other group matches to try to secure one of two qualifying slots from Group A as they are third after they managed only a 0-0 draw with  Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr. The Jordanian league champs started off the competitions with unstable performances that saw them hold the Turkmen team 1-1 lose 3-2 to Lebanon's Al Ahd after their opening 2-0 win over Bahrain's Hidd.

Wihdat team officials urged the team to put local league results behind and focus on the next match. Wihdat were held 0-0 with Ramtha this week, putting them under pressure to win their last match against Jazira to retain the title as they are being chased by Faisali and Ahli close behind.

"We need to give it our best and play for a big win," Wihdat's Ziyad Shilbayeh told the team ahead of departure. "We need to work as one to win locally and regionally," he added.

 Faisali on the other hand are second in Group B ahead of their match against Turkmenistan's Istiklol Dushanbe. In their last match, they beat Lebanon's Tripoli 3-1. In Leg 1, they held Tripoli 1-1, beat Iraq's Naft Al Wasat 2-1 after their opening  0-0 draw with Dushanbe. 

Coach Rateb Awadat noted the team had the opportunity to make local and regional history this season. He urged the team to make use of the home game advantage and advance from the group. Faisali have improved in their last league matches and are now two points behind leaders Wihdat ahead of their match against Baqa'a.