Playlist
“Altyn Asyr” Falls to “Al-Shabab” but Keeps AFC Challenge League Playoff Hopes Alive
31 Oct. 13:51In the third round of the AFC Challenge League group stage, Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr lost 1–3 to Oman’s Al-Shabab. Zafer Babadzhanov scored the only goal for Altyn Asyr in the 29th minute. Al-Shabab’s Hatim Al-Rushadi scored twice (53rd and 90+2nd minutes), while Hanaan Markne added another goal in the 45th minute.
The victory secured Al-Shabab’s spot in the quarterfinals, while Altyn Asyr retained second place in the group and a chance to advance to the playoffs. To qualify as the best second-placed team from the Western zone, Altyn Asyr needs either a draw in the match between Al-Sib (Oman) and Al-Ansar (Lebanon) or for Al-Kuwait to drop points against Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings.
Earlier in the group stage, Altyn Asyr had two wins: 1–0 against Kyrgyzstan’s Abdysh-Ata and 3–1 against Bhutan’s Paro.
The 2025/26 AFC Challenge League features 20 clubs divided into Western and Eastern zones. Matches are held in a centralized format, with each team facing opponents once. Each participating club receives $100,000.
Eight teams advance to the quarterfinals: three group winners and the best runner-up from the Western zone, along with the two best teams from each Eastern group. Quarterfinals will take place in March, semifinals in April 2026, and the final on May 9, 2026.
The previous edition was won by Turkmenistan’s reigning champion, Arkadag FC.
Also read
Financial Disagreements Derail Anticipated Heavyweight Bout Between Usyk and Wilder
Today in 04:59The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between former undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder has officially been canceled. Both camps had initially aimed to stage the blockbuster bout in the spring of 2027, generating immense excitement among boxing enthusiasts worldwide. However, negotiations between the prominent boxing stars ultimately collapsed behind closed doors.
According to prominent sports journalist Mike Coppinger and insider sources, the breakdown in talks stemmed directly from unresolved financial disputes and disagreements over purse splits. Negotiations were reportedly halted roughly three weeks ago after both sides failed to reach a mutually beneficial commercial agreement. As a result, the Ukrainian champion is currently left without a scheduled opponent, and his promotional team is not actively engaged in talks for an alternative match.
Meanwhile, rumors have surfaced regarding Deontay Wilder's potential next steps inside the squared circle. Reports indicate that Wilder has reached out to cruiserweight standout Jai Opetaia, attempting to entice him into a December 11 fight card. Speculation suggests Wilder hopes to position this high-profile matchup as a co-feature ahead of the eagerly awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Also read
Blitz