When Group Battles Turn to Knockout Glory: Shabab, Kuwait, and Al Ansar Light Up the AFC Challenge Cup Quarterfinals

Group Stage Drama and the Quarterfinalists

The AFC Challenge Cup 2025-2026 is shaping up for a dramatic knockout phase as Shabab Oman from Oman, Kuwait SC, and Al Ansar from Lebanon all topped their groups. They were joined by Muras United of Kyrgyzstan, who earned the West Zone’s best runner-up spot, ensuring a diverse quartet of quarterfinalists. The tournament format guarantees three group winners advance, plus the top second-place team, creating a night of suspense for each final group match.

Group 1 overview

In Thimphu, Shabab Oman secured a 3-1 victory over Altın Asır, with the opener coming from Zafar Babajanov in the 29th minute. The Omanis answered before halftime through Keniyan Markene, and Hatim Al-Roshdi sealed the win with two late strikes (53rd and 90+2nd minutes). The result left Shabab Oman atop the group with 9 points, while Altın Asır trailed with 6, and Abdysh Ata and Baro each collected a point in a rollercoaster of results across the schedule.

The group campaign began with wins for Shabab Oman over Baro and Abdysh Ata before the decisive third round. Altın Asır pushed hard but could not overturn the leaders, and the final standings reflected Shabab’s consistent form at the right moments of the campaign.

Group 2 overview

In the second group, Kuwait SC defeated Bashundhara Kings 2-0 to seize the lead, while Al Ansar Lebanon clinched progression as the best second-placed side after a 2-1 win against Seeb. Kuwait finished top with 7 points; Al Ansar followed with 6, and Seeb and Bashundhara failed to gather the required points in a tightly contested pool.

Early pressure from Kuwait yielded a quick breakthrough as Yusuf Nasser opened the scoring and Taher Al-Kheneisi capped the first-half advantage, ensuring a solid path through the group stage. The An Nsar’s late winners further demonstrated the depth of Lebanese football and the competitive nature of the West Zone.

Group 3 overview

Beating a path through a final round of fixtures, Muras United Kyrgyzstan secured qualification by drawing 1-1 with Al Arabi Kuwait. Anayo Iwala put the Kuwaiti side ahead in the 21st minute, but Muras United responded through Charpibel Gomez in the 55th minute to grab a crucial point. The Libyan-based Saifa, plus the other group fixtures, kept the door open for a dramatic finish, but ultimately Muras United claimed the top spot in the group with 5 points, while Al Arabi Kuwait and Saifa shared the next positions in the table.

In the same group, Al Saafa Lebanon defeated Rigar Tadzadzh with a 2-1 scoreline, lifting the Lebanese side’s prospects and ending their campaign on a hopeful note. Overall, the third group showcased a mix of resilience and tactical battles that underline the competitive nature of this AFC competition.

Across the groups, late goals, tactical shifts, and standout performances punctuated the path to the quarterfinals, setting up an intriguing knockout stage. KOOORA

Sniper punchline 1: If football were target practice, these groups just showed that precision beats volume—though sometimes volume wins the final shot by a nose. Sniper punchline 2: In this tournament, even the net looked surprised by how often it was used for a winner; talk about a dramatic booking!