IFFHS CONTINENTAL STATS - AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
CONTRATULATIONS FOR AL AHLI FC
- HE Saleh Salem Bahwini, IFFHS President and the Executive Committee with all the members, congratulate Al Ahli FC of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the historical win of the AFC Champions League. Al Ahli FC have secured their first Asian crown, becoming the 25th club to win the continent's biggest club football competition.
- Al Ahli have won nine Saudi titles, but only one, 2015-16, came in the 21st century. As recently as 2022 they were relegated from the SPL for the first time, winning their way back in the following year. On the continental front, they are one of only four clubs Yokohama F.Marinos, FC Seoul and Persepolis the others - who have played in multiple finals without success; losing to Daewoo Royals (now Busan IPark) in 1986, and Ulsan Hyundai (now Ulsan HD ) in 2012.
- Al Ahli stands alone as Saudi Arabia's representative on Asia's biggest stage. After a fifth-place finish in last year's SPL, Al Ittihad didn't even qualify for this year's ACLE or the Asian Champions League 2, but they defeated Al Hilal 3-1 in the semifinals on Tuesday to reach the final !
- Due to a great performance of Roberto Firmino (man of the match with two assists for the two goals), Al Ahli won sovereign the final against Japanese Kawasaki Frontale.
- Kawasaki were winless in their last five J1 League games before heading to Jeddah, their opponents won three straight SPL games before comfortably dispatching Thai champions Burinam United in the quarterfinals and proving undeniable as they put down Al Hilal in the semi final.
- Al Nassr, for their part, were supposed to complete an all-Saudi final the following evening, only to be stunned and deservedly beaten 3-2 by Kawasaki. Cristiano Ronaldo endured a nightmarish evening in the semi final, missing three chances to equalize during stoppage time.