The first match of the 1/8 finals of the AFC-2 Champions League, which is to be held in Ashgabat, will be the third in history of meetings between «Al-Nassr» of Saudi Arabia and Turkmen clubs. The first took place in 1995 as part of the 15th edition of the Asian football confederation champions trophy. Then, 31 years ago, three-time national champions «Kopetdag» of Ashgabat, representing Turkmenistan in the main continental club tournament, reached the quarterfinal round of the competition, which took place in Riyadh with the participation of four teams: Qatari «Al-Arabi», Iranian «Saipa», Saudi Arabian «Al-Nassr», and Turkmen «Kopetdag».
In the first match, «Kopetdag», led by the honoured coach of Turkmenistan, Bayram Durdyyev, lost to «Saipa» in a tough fight – 0:1, in the second they tied – 2:2 with «Al-Arabi», and in the third they lost to «Al-Nassr» by a narrow margin – 0:1 and finished their performance in the prestigious tournament among the eight best teams in Asia. This result remains unmatched by any other Turkmen club in the main continental tournament of Asian champions.
The next paths of «Kopetdag» and «Al-Nassr» crossed on the 10th of April, 1998, in the semi-finals of the 8th edition of the European Cup Winners' Cup – as the second-ranking club tournament in Asia was then called.
The game took place in Riyadh at the 70 thousand-seat King Fahd Stadium in Saudi Arabia. Before the match with «Kopetdag», the home team, coached by Brazilian Fernandes, significantly strengthened their squad. The ranks of «Al-Nassr» have been joined by 32-year-old Bulgarian international Hristo Stoichkov, known for his performances for Barcelona, who agreed to play in the semi-finals and finals for 200 thousand US dollars, as well as Qatar national team striker Mohamed Salem Al-Anzi.
«Kopetdag» played well against the renowned Saudi Arabian club, losing again by one goal – 1:2.
And now fate has brought together the three-time reigning champion of Turkmenistan, «Arkadag», with «Al-Nasr» in the 1/8 finals of the AFC-2 Champions League. The Saudi Arabian club, which has signed a number of foreign stars, including five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, is the tournament favourite. And «Arkadag», whose squad consists exclusively of local footballers, is a debutant in second-ranking club competition of Asia.
Football club «Arkadag» was founded in 2023 on the initiative of Hero-Arkadag and in a short time became a true flagship of Turkmen football. In its three years of existence, the team has not suffered a single defeat in the domestic arena, winning the championship, Cup, and Super cup of Turkmenistan.
Last year, «Arkadag» also achieved success on the international stage, winning the AFC Challenge League Cup – the third most important club tournament in Asia. In the final, the team of Vladimir Bayramov defeated «Preah Khan Rich Svay Rieng» of Cambodia with a score of 2:1, marking an important milestone in the history of the team.
Before the start of the AFC-2 Champions League playoffs, FC «Arkadag» announced the signing of contracts with three players from the Turkmenistan national team. The roster of the team has been expanded by 25-year-old midfielder Meylis Diniyev, who played for «Kyrgyzaltyn» of Karabalta from Kyrgyzstan last season, as well as 22-year-old forward Dayanch Meredov of «Kopetdag» and 24-year-old forward Rahman Myratberdiyev of «Altyn Asyr». Following these transfers, the value of «Arkadag» football club increased from 2.88 million euro to 3.15 million euro.
According to experts, the upcoming two-legged clash with «Al-Nassr» is a historic opportunity for «Arkadag» to test its strength against one of the greats of the continent and once again establish itself on the international stage. Regardless of the outcome, the match has already entered the history of Turkmen football and has become a source of national pride. The «Olympic» stadium is expected to be sold out, and interest in the match will extend far beyond the borders of the country.
