Mumbai City FC got one of the toughest draws in ACL 2023-24
Mumbai City FC, the champions of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23, will be representing India in the biggest club competition in Asia, the AFC Champions League (ACL). The Islanders have been drawn in Group D alongside Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Navbahor Namangan of Uzbekistan, and Nassaji Mazandaran of Iran.
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal is a Saudi Arabian multi-sports club based in Riyadh. Their football team is one of the most successful clubs in Asia, having won 66 official trophies, including a record 8 AFC trophies.
In domestic competitions, Al-Hilal have also won a record 13 Crown Prince Cup titles, a record 7 Saudi Federation Cup titles, 10 King Cup titles, and 3 Super Cup titles.
Internationally, Al-Hilal’s most notable achievements include winning the AFC Champions League four times (1991, 2000, 2019, and 2021), the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup twice (1997 and 2002), and the Asian Super Cup twice (1997 and 2000).
Al-Hilal is a significant force in Saudi Arabian and Asian football, and it continues to be one of the most successful clubs in the world. This season they have spent a lot of money on bringing some top-quality players from European top divisions including the likes of Neymar Jr.
- Head coach: Jorge Jesus (Portugal)
- Star players: Neymar Jr. (Brazil), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal),Ruben Neves(Portugal), Malcom (Brazil), Yassine Bonou (Morocco), Aleksander Mitrovic (Serbia)
Navbahor Namangan
Navbahor is an Uzbek professional football club based in Namangan. The club’s name means “New Spring” in Persian. They play in the Uzbekistan Super League, the top division of Uzbek football.
Navbahor has won the Uzbekistan Super League title once (1996) and finished third three times (1993, 1994, and 1995). They also won the Uzbekistan Supercup in 1999.
The Uzbek club qualified after finishing second in the league the previous season. They are currently standing at the same position – only behind Pakhtahor.
- Head coach: Samvel Babayan (Armenia)
- Star players: Jamshid Iskandarov (Uzbekistan) ,Temurkhuzha Abdukholikov (Uzbekistan)
Nassaji Mazandaran
Nassaji Mazandaran is an Iranian football club based in Qa them Shahr, Mazandaran. They currently play in the Persian Gulf Pro League, the top division of Iranian football. Nassaji is one of the oldest clubs in Iran and has one of the highest average attendances in the country.
Nassaji has never won a major trophy, but they have finished third in the Persian Gulf Pro League twice (2010-11 and 2016-17). In the previous season, they finished 13th out of 16 clubs only managing to get 26 points in 30 matches. They qualified by winning the Hazfi Cup 2021-22.
- Head coach: Mehdi Rahmati (Iran)
- Star players: Mohammed Raza Azadi (Iran), Farshid Ismail (Iran)
