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Al-Ahli Crowned New Kings of Asian Champions League Elite

Moment Al-Ahli lift continental title (Reuters)
Moment Al-Ahli lift continental title (Reuters)
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Al-Ahli Crowned New Kings of Asian Champions League Elite

Moment Al-Ahli lift continental title (Reuters)
Moment Al-Ahli lift continental title (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli ended a long drought in major tournament triumphs, particularly on the continental stage, by clinching the revamped AFC Elite Champions League title with a historic 2-0 victory over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
In a night to remember at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, known as the “Shining Jewel,” Brazilian forward Galeno and Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié scored in a dramatic final that marked a turning point for the Jeddah-based club.
Thousands of jubilant Al-Ahli fans turned the stadium into a sea of green, celebrating their team’s return to continental glory. The win not only revived memories of past successes for the club, nicknamed the “Castle of Trophies,” but also gave Saudi football a fresh milestone—securing the first title in the competition’s new format.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, crowned Al-Ahli as champions of the new-look AFC Elite Champions League on Saturday night, alongside Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, who presented gold medals to the victorious players and silver medals to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
Al-Ahli entered the final with a star-studded lineup featuring goalkeeper Edouard Mendy; defenders Ali Majrashi, Merih Demiral, Roger Ibañez and Ezgjan Alioski; midfielders Ziyad Al-Juhani, Franck Kessié, and Riyad Mahrez; and an attacking trio of Galeno, Roberto Firmino, and Ivan Toney.
The first half unfolded as a tense and tactical affair, with both sides probing cautiously until the 35th minute. Then, Brazilian winger Galeno electrified the home crowd with a clever low strike that broke the deadlock, beating Kawasaki’s goalkeeper and swinging momentum decisively in Al-Ahli’s favor.
Riding the wave of home support, Al-Ahli struck again just seven minutes later. Galeno turned provider with a pinpoint cross that Kessié met with a powerful header to double the lead in the 42nd minute, sending the stadium into raptures.
In the second half, Kawasaki came out pressing hard for a comeback, but the Saudi side refused to sit back. Al-Ahli launched a series of quick counterattacks from the wings and through the middle, forcing their Japanese opponents to split focus between defense and attack.
Despite Kawasaki’s relentless efforts to breach the Saudi backline, Al-Ahli’s defense stood firm until the final whistle, sealing a famous night for the Jeddah club and a significant milestone for Saudi football.

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Asian Cup Draw Postponed

The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)
The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)
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Asian Cup Draw Postponed

The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)
The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)

The draw for January's Asian Cup finals, which was due to be held in Riyadh on April 11, has been postponed, the Asian Football Confederation announced on Thursday.

Officials have rescheduled the event to a later date "to ensure the undisrupted attendance of all stakeholders at the final draw ceremony," the governing ⁠body said in ⁠a statement.

"The AFC expressed its appreciation to the Local Organizing Committee for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ for their full readiness to host the draw as planned, and it appreciates the understanding and continued cooperation of its Participating Member Associations, fans and stakeholders," the statement added.

Saudi Arabia is due to host the 24-team quadrennial continental championship for the first time with the last remaining round of qualifiers taking place on Tuesday.

Qatar are the defending champions and have already secured their ⁠berth ⁠at the finals alongside four-times winners Japan, plus fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea, Iran, Jordan, Australia and Uzbekistan.

The AFC announced on Tuesday that the latter stages of the Asian Champions League Elite would go ahead as planned in Jeddah, with matches running from April 13 to 26.

Sports

Maguire: Amorim Had Great Ideas but they Did Not Click at Man United

Manchester United's English defender #05 Harry Maguire is sent off the pitch after receiving a red card during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Manchester United's English defender #05 Harry Maguire is sent off the pitch after receiving a red card during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Maguire: Amorim Had Great Ideas but they Did Not Click at Man United

Manchester United's English defender #05 Harry Maguire is sent off the pitch after receiving a red card during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Manchester United's English defender #05 Harry Maguire is sent off the pitch after receiving a red card during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire said former manager Ruben Amorim had strong ideas, but they ultimately “didn’t work” at Old Trafford, further praising interim manager Michael Carrick for overseeing a smooth transition.

United have revived their season since Carrick took charge in January, rising into the Premier League’s top three after earning 23 points in 10 games, with only one defeat. "I really like Ruben, he’s ⁠got great ideas. ⁠The ideas just didn’t work at Manchester United," Maguire said of Amorim in an interview with Britain's The Guardian.

"It just didn’t click or work and us, as players, have got to ⁠take a lot of responsibility for that as well."

Amorim was known for his back-three system, but Maguire said he feels more comfortable in a back four.

“In the middle of a back three, it is more cautious, a sweeper-type role and not as much driving forward with the ball, which has been a big part of ⁠my ⁠game throughout my career," he said, according to Reuters.

"I feel like it has been a great transition. Credit to Michael and his staff for making it so smooth.” Maguire was named last week in Thomas Tuchel's 35-man England squad as they host Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, followed by a clash with Japan at the same venue four days later.

Sports

Hamilton Says More Committed to F1 than Ever at 41

Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton in Suzuka. Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP
Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton in Suzuka. Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP
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Hamilton Says More Committed to F1 than Ever at 41

Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton in Suzuka. Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP
Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton in Suzuka. Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP

A rejuvenated Lewis Hamilton said Thursday that he was more committed to Formula One "than ever" aged 41 and believes he trains harder than any other driver.

The seven-time world champion has made a strong start to the season with Ferrari and is fourth in the championship after two races, 18 points behind leader George Russell of Mercedes, said AFP.

Hamilton finished third in China to claim a podium place for the first time since joining Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, and he said he had been putting in the hard yards ahead of this week's Japanese Grand Prix.

"I was in Tokyo between this race and the last race, I've run like 100 kilometers," the Briton said.

"I know that none of the drivers I'm racing against have trained as hard as I am and giving it what I am, especially at my age.

"I love that, that I still have that drive to push myself," he added.

Hamilton boasted that he was returning to his hotel after a morning run just as other drivers were getting up.

"The commitment is there, more than ever," he said.

"I dedicate absolutely everything I have to this challenge."

Hamilton endured a nightmare first season with Ferrari last year, finishing sixth in the championship and suffering the indignity of becoming the first driver to be eliminated from Q1 at three consecutive grands prix.

His fortunes have changed markedly with new regulations and car designs this season, which have produced noticeably more overtaking in races than in recent years.

Hamilton got the better of team-mate Charles Leclerc after a titanic tussle in Shanghai and he said he found battling drivers "much more fun".

"That's how racing should be," he said.

"It should be back and forth, it shouldn't be one move is done and then that's it."