Arabi and Wakrah eye group stage spots

Al Arabi and Al Wakrah will both fancy their chances of advancing to the AFC Champions League group stage. The Qatari teams will be in action today in the playoff ties, with Arabi facing AGMK FC of Uzbekistan, while Wakrah take on Navbahor of Uzbekistan.
Arabi head into the qualifiers at the Al Thumama Stadium after one of their most successful seasons in recent times while AGMK are on a high after defeating Oman’s Al Seeb Club in the AFC Champions League 2023/24 preliminary round last week.
One of Qatar’s historic clubs, Al Arabi enjoyed their best season in the 21st century last campaign, winning the Amir Cup for the first time since 1993 and finishing runners-up in the Qatar Stars League, their best result since 2001. Syrian Omar al-Soma was instrumental to their success which earned them a place in the AFC Champions League playoff. Having spent last season on loan in Doha, al-Soma returns on a full transfer, hoping to take his side to the group stage for the second time in their history after 2012.
In just under 20 years since their founding, AGMK went from the lower divisions of Uzbek football to winning the Uzbekistan Cup in 2018, finishing in the top four of the Uzbekistan Super League three consecutive times and making their AFC Champions League debut in 2021 where they won two games. That 2021 appearance came via a playoff win against Qatar’s Al Gharafa, and the side from the Olmaliq region will have to repeat the trick against another Qatari side, Al Arabi, to reach the group stage again.
Al Wakrah will square off against Navbahor with both teams having enjoyed a recent resurgence after years of struggling, setting the stage for a potential classic at the Al Janoub Stadium.
After years of struggling at the lower end of the table and a few relegations, Al Wakrah are experiencing a revival that saw them finish in the Qatar Stars League top four in two consecutive seasons. Their third-place finish in 2021-22 was their highest since winning the title in 2001.
With experienced players such as Australian international defender Trent Sainsbury and Egyptian international Hamdy Fathy in their ranks, Al Wakrah are one match away from becoming the ninth different club to represent Qatar in the AFC Champions League group stage.
Wakrah coach Marques Lopez said his team is ready to face Navbahor. “We got some information about Navbahor, who are currently at the top of the table in Uzbek Premier League. Our preparations for the match were not long, and it took only four days since facing Muaither in the league but we are fully prepared to face a strong opponent, and we are playing on our land and among our fans,” he said.
Navbahor, meanwhile, are a club who enjoyed their best days in the 1990s when they won the Uzbek League title in 1996 and participated in the Asian Club Championship the following year. Navbahor, however, are now back to the forefront of Uzbek football and in 2022, they finished runners-up, their best result in the league since that 1996 title and also reached the Uzbek Cup final, losing to FC Nasaf.