Wihdat crash out of AFC Champions League

AMMAN — Jordan’s Wihdat ended their run in the preliminary round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League when they went down 1-0 to titleholders Kuwait’s Qadissieh.

Qadissieh scored their winning goal in the 70th minute as Wihdat lost a real chance to equalise and exited the competition. Qadissieh advanced to play Saudi Arabia’s Ahli on February 17 and the winner will move to the group stages.

As League champs, Wihdat were Jordan’s representative in the premier Asian competition. Last year, Shabab Urdun were eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Hidd in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League.

Wihdat now return to play alongside Jazira in the second-tier Asian competition — the AFC Cup. After two-time titleholders and League runner-up Faisali declined, third-placed Jazira were nominated to take part for the first time. Had Wihdat advanced in the Champions League, they were to be replaced by the League’s 4th-placed team, That Ras, in the AFC Cup alongside Jazira.

The 12th AFC Cup 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.

Last year, first-time AFC Cup competitor and Jordan Cup champ, That Ras, exited in the Round of 16 while former AFC Cup champ Shabab Urdun lost in Round 1. 

The AFC Cup was won by Syria’s Jeish in its inaugural edition in 2004. Jordan’s Faisali won in 2005 and 2006 and Shabab Urdun won their first Asian title in 2007.