Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr was placed in Group E in the AFC Champions League draw on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur. The other teams in Al Nassr’s group are Persepolis FC, Al Duhail SC, and FC Istiklol. In Group D, Mumbai City FC will face Al Hilal SFC, FC Nassaji Mazandaran, and Navbahor. The Islanders, India’s only participating club, have brought in Neymar Jr, who just joined Al Nassr.
AFC Champions League 2023-24 Draw:
The twenty-first edition of Asia’s top-tier football club competition will feature 40 clubs grouped into ten groups of four. Five of the ten groups will have teams from the West Zone (groups A to E). Remaining five will have teams from the East Zone (groups F to J). The attention, though, will be on ISL Shield champions Mumbai City FC and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
Mumbai City FC who won the Indian Super League Shield earlier this year, is in pot 3 (West Zone). For the second year in a row, the Indian football club will compete in the AFC Champions League. The Islanders have been drawn in Group D. It also involves four-time Asian champions Al Hilal, Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran FC and Navbahor of Uzbekistan.
Last year, Mumbai City FC made history by becoming the first Indian team to win the AFC Champions League. However, they finished fifth among the second-placed teams across all groups and were unable to advance any further.
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed his participation in the AFC Champions League 2023-24. After defeating Shabab Al-Ahli 4-2 in the group phase playoff game, Al-Nassr advanced to the main round. Al Nassr have been drawn in Group E of the tournament. The other teams are Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis FC, Al Duhail SC of Qatar, Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol.
AFC Champions League 2023-24 Draw Groups:
- Group A: Pakhtakor, Al Fayha FC, Ahal FC, Al Ain FC
- Group B: Al Sadd, FC Nasaf, Al Faisaly, Sharjah FC
- Group C: Al Ittihad, Sepahan SC,Air Force Club, AGMK FC
- Group D: Al Hilal SFC, Nassaji Mazandaran FC, Mumbai City FC, Navbahor
- Group E: Persepolis FC, Al Duhail SC, FC Istiklol, Al Nassr,
- Group F: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR), Bangkok United (THA), Lion City Sailors (SGP), Kitchee SC (HKG)
- Group G: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN), Shandong Taishan FC (CHN), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Incheon United FC (KOR)
- Group H: Buriram United (THA), Ventforet Kofu (JPN), Melbourne City FC (AUS), Zhejiang FC (CHN)
- Group I: Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS), BG Pathum United (THA)
- Group J: Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN), Pohang Steelers (KOR), Hanoi FC (VIE), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
