Doha: Qatar football giants Al Sadd will face Al Faisaly from Saudi Arabia, Jordan’s Al Wehdat and the winners of the play-off featuring Baniyas of the UAE and Nasaf Qarshi in Group E of the 2022 AFC Champions League (ACL), the draw revealed yesterday.
The reigning QNB Stars league champions Al Sadd, who won the title in 2011, are joined by three more sides from Qatar, Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa and Al Duhail in the West Asian side of the continental event.
Al Rayyan will be up against the defending ACL champions Al Hilal SFC, Tajikistan’s Istiklol and the winners of the play-off between Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates and Iraqi side Al Zawraa in Group A after the draw was completed in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Al Gharafa are in Group C which is headlined by Foolad Khouzestan from Iran and 2015 finalists Shabab Al Ahli Dubai as well as Ahal FC of Turkmenistan.
In Group D, Al Duhail will be up against Iranian side Sepahan, who reached the final of the 2007 edition as well as two-time semi-finalists Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan and the winners of the play-off between Al Taawon from Saudi Arabia and Syrians Al Jaish.
Meanwhile, tournament debutants Mumbai City from India have been drawn in Group B alongside Al Jazeera from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab and three-time AFC Cup winners Air Force Club of Iraq.
The group stage matches of the West Region will take place in a centralised host venue from April 7-27.
