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2020 AFC Cup group stage draw revealed

Photo by: the-afc.com

On 10 December 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, at 14:00 (local time), the AFC held the draw for the 2020 AFC Cup group stage.

Ahed have been drawn in Group A alongside Manama (Bahrain), Jaysh (Syria), and Sur (Oman) / Hilal Al Qods (Palestine).

Ansar have been drawn in Group B alongside Al Faisaly / Al Wehdat (Jordan), Kuwait / Selmiya (Kuwait), and Al Wathba (Syria).

Opponents

Group A:

Manama are the Oman League runners-up. Ahed faced them in the 2018 AFC Cup and beat the team twice.

Ahed also faced Jaysh, Syria League winners, in the 2018 edition: one draw at home and one win away for Ahed.

The third opponent will be the winner of the 2020 AFC Cup play-off between Sur (Oman Cup Winners) or Hilal Al Qods (West Bank League Winners). In the 2018 edition, Ansar beat Sur twice meanwhile in the 2019 edition, Hilal Al Qods beat Nejmeh twice. Please note that the two games of Hilal Al Qods and Nejmeh were played in Jeddah due to political reasons.

Group B:

Faisaly (Jordan) and Kuwait will participate in the AFC Champions League play-off. Wehdat will replace Faisaly if Faisaly advance to the group stage and Selmiya will replace Kuwait if Kuwait advance to the group stage. Please note Faisaly and Kuwait will face each other in the preliminary round 1.

Faisaly, Jordan League and Cup winners, beat Ansar twice in the 2018 AFC Cup.

Kuwait, Kuwait League and Cup winners, didn’t qualify to the knockout stage of the 2019 AFC Cup.

Wathba, Syria Cup winners, will participate for the first time in this continent competition.

Schedule

[H= Home ; A= away]

Ahed:

Vs Sur or Hilal Al Qods [H; February 10-12]*
Vs Manama [A; February 24-26]
Vs Jaysh [H; March 9-11]
Vs Jaysh [A; April 13-15]
Vs Sur or Hilal Al Qods [A; April 27-29]
Vs Manama [May 11-13]

*In case Hilal Al Qods advance to the group stage, Ahed will have to wait for the decision of the AFC to know where the games against the Palestine side will be played.

Ansar:

Vs Kuwait or Selmiya [A, February 10-12]
Vs Faisaly or Wehdat [H, February 24-26]
Vs Wathab [A, March 9-11 March]
Vs Wathab [H, April 13-15]
Vs Kuwait or Selmiya [H, April 27-29]
Vs Faisaly or Wehdat [A, May 11-13]

System of the competition

The champion in each group and the best second-placed club among the three groups shall qualify to the West Asia Zonal Semi-Finals.
The two winners of the zonal semi-finals qualify for the zonal-final, with the winner of the West Zone qualifying for the 2019 AFC Cup Final. Please note that the final will be hosted by the winner of the West zone. FA Lebanon hope that the final of the 2020 AFC CUP will be played in Beirut!

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