The Asian Football Confederation has highlighted Al Gharafa Club’s participation in the first edition of the AFC Champions League for the elite for the new season 2024-2025.
Today, the official website of the Asian Federation published a report on Al-Gharafa Club as one of the representatives of Qatari football in the Asian Elite Championship, along with Al-Sadd and Al-Rayyan.
The report pointed out the strength of the matches that Al Gharafa awaits in the tournament, as it hosts at its stadium the Uzbek Pakhtakor, the Emirati Al Ain and Al Wasl, and the Saudi Al Nassr, and meets outside its stadium the Iranian Persepolis and Esteghlal teams, and the Saudi Al Hilal and Al Ahli.
Al Gharafa booked a place in the first edition of the AFC Champions League for the elite, by finishing third in the Qatari league table last season with 44 points collected from 13 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses, scoring 53 goals, compared to 36 goals in its net.
Al Sadd, the leaders of the Qatari league last season, and Al Rayyan, the runner-up, qualified directly for the Asian Elite League, while Al Gharafa, the third-place team, played a match against Shabab Al Ahli of the Emirates in the second preliminary round qualifying for the tournament. Al Gharafa succeeded in achieving a clean goal victory, officially reserving its place in the continental tournament in its new format.
The report described Al Gharafa’s participation in the 2010 AFC Champions League as the best, as it reached the quarter-finals during it. Expectations indicate that Al Gharafa will be one of the teams competing strongly in the first edition of the AFC Champions League for the elite, given that it has many distinguished elements at the player level, while the team is led by Portuguese coach Pedro Martins, who has enjoyed stability since taking over the task in 2022.
The Asian report indicated that Martins is looking forward to successfully leading the team in the upcoming continental adventure, relying on distinguished players on whom the fans rely heavily.
It is worth noting that Al Gharafa occupies the fifth place in the Qatar Stars League table during the new season with 4 points, as it tied with Al Khor in the first round without goals, lost in the second round to Al Ahli by a clean goal, and defeated Al Rayyan in the third round by two goals to one, and is scheduled to meet Al Shamal in the fourth round of the tournament.