Defending Champions in New AFC Elite Showdown: Al Ahli Jeddah vs Al Duhail Gets a Fresh Date

New date set for AFC Elite clash

Defending champions face a tough mission in the Elite Round of 16.

Schedule changes and format

Al Ahli Jeddah announced the new date for its match with Al Duhail in the AFC Champions League Elite, after it was postponed previously.

It had been slated for March 2 and March 9, in the home-and-away round of the Elite, before all fixtures in the West were postponed due to Iranian strikes.

The Asian Football Confederation later confirmed all Elite Round of 16 ties would be single-leg matches, to be played on April 13 or 14 in Jeddah.

According to Al Ahli official X account, the meeting will take place on April 13 at 6:15 PM Mecca time, at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah.

The winner advances to the quarterfinals to face Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia, a club competing in this stage for the first time.

It’s worth noting that Al Ahli are the defending champions of last season’s Elite edition, after beating Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in the final.

Punchline: If you blink, you might miss the kickoff and still win a souvenir calendar.

Punchline: This schedule was postponed so many times that even the trophy sent in for a raincheck.