Al Khaldiya eyeing AFC Cup berth

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain league champions Al Khaldiya are gearing up for a crucial qualifying match for a berth in a leading continental competition.

Khaldiya will be playing Al Nahda of Oman on 22 August for a place in the group stages of the 2023/2024 AFC Cup—the annual continental club competition under the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for top teams not competing in the AFC Champions League.

The fixture will be played at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town. It is scheduled for a 7pm kick-off. Khaldiya, who captured their maiden Bahrain league crown last season, can add an AFC Cup group stage debut to that achievement if they overcome four-time Oman Professional League champions Nahda, who last appeared in the AFC Cup in 2015.

Khaldiya are hoping to join Riffa as the two Bahrain teams in this season’s AFC Cup. Riffa already have their slot in the tournament. As part of their preparations for the qualifier, Khaldiya played a friendly match against Al Ain of the UAE at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in the UAE. The Bahrainis lost the match 1-3.