Al-Wasl Club officially qualified for the round of 16 of the AFC Elite Champions League, despite tying with its guest, Al-Rayyan of Qatar, with a goal each, the day before yesterday, in the sixth round of the league stage in West Asia of the continental championship.
The “Emperor” joined the three Saudi clubs, Al-Ahly, Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr, in addition to the Qatari club Al-Sadd, which guaranteed qualification, while seven clubs competed for the other three cards.
Mathematically, the Qatari Al Rayyan and Iranian Esteghlal teams will not be able to exceed the number of points of connection, which is 11 points, as each of them has five points in its balance, and each team has two matches remaining, one of which will bring them together in the eighth round.
Al-Wasl has two matches remaining in the league stage, as it will play away from its home stadium with Al-Nasr Saudi Arabia in the seventh round, on the third of next February, before hosting Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia in Zabeel on the 18th of the same month, as Al-Wasl hopes to advance in the standings to obtain an easier confrontation in the eighth. Final.
“The Emperor” has become the first Emirati team to qualify for the round of 16 in the newly created continental championship, which is being held for the first time this season, under the name of the AFC Champions League for the elite, where 24 teams were divided into two groups, with 12 teams in the West Asia group, and the same in the East group. Asia, while eight clubs from each group qualify for the round of 16.
For his part, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Wasl Club, Ahmed Al-Shafar, praised the qualification to the eighth final, stressing that the team played a great match against Al-Rayyan of Qatar, despite not achieving victory.
Al-Shafar said in press statements: “I thank the players after they played a strong match, as we hoped the team would achieve victory, but in general we played a good match, and wasted many opportunities.”
He added: “We scored a goal, and the players could have increased the score, but they were not successful, and we are happy to qualify for the round of 16, after the team mathematically decided to advance to the next round two rounds before the end of the league stage.”
In response to a question about Al-Wasl entering into negotiations with a prominent player from a competing club in the ADNOC Professional League, he said: “It is not true, there is no agreement, and we did not negotiate with the player of the competing team,” and he continued: “One of the people repeated this on social media sites.” But this information is baseless.” He concluded his statements by confirming that the Brazilian player, Jonatas Santos, will continue with Al Wasl until the end of the season, as he joined the team on loan from Al Ain during the last summer transfer period. It is noteworthy that it was reported on social media that Al-Wasl had reached an agreement to include the player, Laba Kodjo, coming from Al-Ain Club in the upcoming winter transfer period.
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