From debutants to former champions, 24 Asian nations are gearing for the AFC Asian Cup, and many of them are keeping an eye on how their stars are performing across Asia's two club competitions. Here are six players who have driven their teams into the final stages of the AFC Cup and dream of doing the same with their countries in January.
Amjad Radhi (Air Force Club & Iraq)
Competition for attacking positions in the Iraq squad is intense, with an abundance of talent available to coach Basim Qasim. But Amjad Radhi’s impressive record for Air Force Club over the past two years makes it difficult to overlook him.
The 28-year-old ended the 2017-18 season as the second highest scorer in the Iraqi League with 23 goals. Radhi carried that form into the AFC Cup where he is the team’s top goal scorer with six strikes. The forward has attempted 20 shots, with 12 aimed between the sticks in his six AFC Cup appearances this season.
Drawn against rivals IR Iran as well as Vietnam and Yemen in Group D, the Lions of Mesopotamia will be looking to improve on their fourth place finish in Australia 2015, and the attacking prowess of Radhi, either as a starter or coming on as an impact could help unlock games for Iraq in January.
Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru and India)
Seven years ago, Sunil Chhetri became only the second Indian player to net two AFC Asian Cup goals after Inder Singh in 1964. Since then he has gone on to become a legend of Indian and Asian football.
Since making his AFC Cup bow with Churchill Brothers in 2013, Chhetri has netted 16 goals including two in this year’s edition. Even at 33, the Bengaluru captain remains their standout performer, and his contribution is not limited to goals, as he has assisted six AFC Cup goals this term.
An Inter-Zone Semi-Final against Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr awaits as Bengaluru look to repeat their 2016 heroics which saw them reach the AFC Cup final. And for Chhetri, the next challenge will be leading India out of an AFC Asian Cup group which includes hosts the UAE, Bahrain and Thailand.
Mardik Mardikian (Al Jazeera and Syria)
After the departure of star player Musa Al Taamari to Cyprus, Al Jazeera will be ever more reliant on the talents of Syrian forward Mardik Mardikian. Capable of playing centrally or wide on either flank, Mardikian’s clinical finishing has helped the Jordanian side reach the West Asia Zonal Final for the first time in their history.
The son of Syrian football legend Kevork Mardikian, the 26-year-old aims to replicate his father’s record in representing the Eagles of Qasioun in two AFC Asian Cup, and the start will be in January in the UAE where he is set to make his continental debut after Syria had missed out on qualifying for the 2015 edition.
At the national team, Mardikian is often deployed in a supporting role to attacking duo Omar Al Somah and Omar Khribin, and his versatility ensures he is one of the first names on coach Bernd Stange’s sheet.
Kim Yu-song (4.25 and DPRK)
Last season’s AFC Cup top goalscorer has carried his hot form in front of goal into this year’s competition. Just like in 2017, he bagged a handful of goals in one fixture. Last year he had five in 4.25’s group stage encounter against Erchim, and this time around Benfica de Macau were his victims as he put four past them before adding his fifth of the campaign against fellow DPR Korea side Hwaebul.
Kim’s five AFC Cup goals came in just four matches, meaning he boasts an impressive average of one goal every 56 minutes. Having stormed through the group stage, his side now await the winners between Ceres Negros and Home United for the Inter-Zone Semi-Final.
DPR Korea fans will be looking forward to seeing the 23-year-old show his talents in the UAE in January, having proven his worth in the qualifiers with six goals that helped his nation earn a third consecutive qualification to the continental competition.
Altymyrat Annadurdyyev (Altyn Asyr and Turkmenistan)
Altyn Asyr spun arguably the biggest upset of the 2018 AFC Cup when they eliminated last year’s runners-up Istiklol in the group stage and progressed to face Bengaluru in the Inter-Zone Semi-Final. At the heart of their success was talented forward Altymyrat Annadurdyyev who scored a late equaliser in the first leg against the Tajik side.
The 25-year-old contributed six goals and an assist as Altyn Asyr advanced past the group stage for the first time in their history. He was a constant threat throughout the competition, playing every minute and creating seven key chances.
As Turkmenistan return to the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 15 years, Annadurdyyew will be eager to build on his AFC Cup success to leave his mark in the UAE where his country face Japan, Uzbekistan and Oman in Group F.
Manuel Ott (Ceres Negros and Philippines)
Manuel Ott is making a solid case for himself with his performances in the 2018 AFC Cup as players prove their worthiness of a place in the Philippines squad travelling to the UAE for a historic maiden continental campaign.
The Ceres Negros midfielder is amongst the most productive playmakers in the competition, having created 16 chances and assisted four goals. He has also chipped in with two goals to drive the Bacolod based side to their second ASEAN Zonal final in a row.
Following a 1-1 home draw in the first leg of the final, Ott and his teammates will look to overcome Home United next week in Singapore to match last year’s Inter-Zone Semi-Final finish. Whichever way the result goes, Ott will be confident his performances have laid a good foundation for a solid campaign in the UAE in January.
