Turkmen clubs Altyn Asyr and Ahal have went to the marches of the group stage of 2021 AFC Cup, which will be held in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on May 14 – 20.

Seven-time champion and current winner of Turkmenistan’s Cup Altyn Asyr from Ashgabat will play in F Group in Dushanbe. Vice champion of the country Ahal will play in E Group in Bishkek.

In addition of Altyn Asyr, winner of 2011 AFC Cup, vice champion of Uzbekistan Nasaf from Karhy, silver winner of Tajikistan Championship and winner of Kyrgyzstan Cup from Osh will play in F Group. 12-time champion of Kyrgyzstan Dordoy from Bishkek and winner of Tajikistan’s Cup Ravshan from Kulyab will compete against Ahal in E Group.

Due to current epidemiological situation, all matches in E Group will be held at Dolon Omurzakov Stadium without fans.

The winners of E and F groups of the Central Zone in 2021 AFC Cup in zonal final on August 11 and 25.

According to the voting on the website of Asian Football Confederation, Uzbek Nasaf and Kyrgyz Dordoy are the favorites in the groups. It will be the first match for Nasaf in the AFC Cup after its remarkable victory in the final of this tournament ten years ago over Kuwait club. The winning list of Dordoy includes two wins in 2006 and 2007 in the third by importance Asian club tournament, the AFC President’s Cup. Current champion of Kyrgyzstan did not have any success in the AFC Cup.

Regarding our teams, Altyn asyr was the first Turkmen club to reach the final of the AFC Cup in 2018. This time, the players of the Honored Coach of Turkmenistan Yazkuly Hojageldiyev will have to show their best to repeat the achievement of 2018.

Our other club Ahal usually have no problems in matches in Kyrgyzstan. However, this time, the vice champion of Turkmenistan will come to Bishkek without playing practice due to the championship of the country has not started yet.

The AFC Cup is the second by importance club tournament in Asia. New winner of this trophy will be known on November 26, 2021.

The reporter of the Golden Age