LONDON: Spain’s decorated midfielder Xavi Hernandez is wary of Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al-Ahli ahead of their AFC Champions League second-round clash with Al-Sadd on Monday.
The Qatari team, who were champions in 2011, take on the Jeddah giants on Monday in one of the ties of the round – and the former Barcelona star is looking forward to the first-leg clash against the sole survivors from the Kingdom.
“We know that this will be a tough game,” Xavi told Arab News. “Al-Ahli are a good team and Saudi Arabia is a strong football country but we are confident that if we work hard then we know can get past them and into the next round.”
The first leg is on Monday at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha while the second leg is a week later at King Abdullah Sports City. The tournament is divided into east and west geographical zones until the end of the competition in November.
“The important thing is that we perform to our best and work hard to ensure that Al Ahli can’t get into the game,” added Xavi who joined Al Sadd in 2015. “Whichever team makes it will deserve to do do so”
Al-Ahli finished top of Group A with four wins from six matches, but since they have suffered the agony of losing the Saudi Pro League title to Al-Hilal by a solitary point and also lost their coach, Fathi Al-Jabal replacing the fired Sergiy Rebrov.
“We are away in the first leg,” said Al Jabal in his press conference. “The important thing is to stay in touch and then we know that we can come back in the second leg. We know that we can do it. To be in the knockout stage is a great achievement. The most important point is however that we can compete against the best teams in the region.”
Elsewhere, Al-Jazira of the UAE host Iran’s Persepolis while Al-Ain, finalists in 2016, take on Al-Duhail of Qatar.
The eastern and western side of the draw takes place in September with teams from the two zones meeting only in the final in November.
Barca great Xavi expecting ‘tough game’ from Al-Ahli in knockout round of AFC Champions League
Barca great Xavi expecting ‘tough game’ from Al-Ahli in knockout round of AFC Champions League
- Al-Sadd and Al-Ahli to meet in last-16 clash in Doha
- Al-Ahli play for the first time since coach Rebrov was fired
Morocco achieve record FIFA ranking, Senegal rise to 12th
- Morocco moved up three spots in the January ranking to eighth
- The 2022 World Cup semifinalists’ previous best was 10th in April 1998
RABAT: Morocco have achieved their highest FIFA men’s world ranking, rising to eighth, despite losing the Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal, who climbed to 12th on Monday.
Morocco were beaten 1-0 after extra time by Senegal in the decider in Rabat on Sunday, but the hosts had a chance to win the trophy with a last-gasp penalty at the end of regulation time.
However, Brahim Diaz squandered the kick after having to wait some 14 minutes for the Senegal players to return, as they walked off the field to protest the penalty decision.
Morocco moved up three spots in the January ranking to eighth. The 2022 World Cup semifinalists’ previous best was 10th in April 1998.
The highest ranking achieved by an African team was Nigeria’s fifth in April 1994, while Egypt posted the best ranking among Arab nations when they reached ninth in July 2010.
Champions Senegal, who emerged victorious for a second time in the last three editions, moved up seven spots to reach their highest-ever ranking. Their previous best was 17th, achieved in 2024.
The AFCON results have had a huge impact on the ranking of African teams, as several positions have shifted.
Bronze medallists Nigeria (26th) were the team that gained the most points, collecting 79.09 points to move up 12 spots, the same as Cameroon (45th), making them the biggest climbers.
Egypt, who reached the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations, climbed four places to 31st, three spots behind Algeria.
Gabon, who were eliminated in the group stage, lost 44.97 points to become the team that lost the most points, dropping to 86th. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, suffered the biggest fall, sliding 10 spots to 107th.
European champions Spain kept top spot, ahead of World Cup holders Argentina. France are third, followed by England, Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands, with no change in the ranking of the top seven teams.
