History was made in the AFC Cup 2018 as Air Force Club became the first team to clinch three consecutive titles after the Iraqi club defeated Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr FC
2-0 in a captivating final at the Basra Sport City Stadium in Iraq on Saturday.
Having successfully navigated the final against FC Istiklol from Tajikistan last year and India's JSW Bengaluru FC in 2016, Air Force Club have now equalled Al Kuwait's (2009, 2012, 2013) record of three AFC Cup titles.
The AFC President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, congratulated the West Asian winners: "Air Force Club deserves immense credit for showcasing their consistency and dominance throughout the years. We must also praise Altyn Asyr FC who have shown great determination to become the first club for Turkmenistan to reach the final
"The true hallmark of excellence is the ability not just to win, but to defend titles and Air Force Club has shown they are amongst the best in the competition's proud history.
"The entire Asian football family congratulates Air Force Club as well as the Iraqi Football Association for their tremendous efforts and dedication in developing the game."
The AFC President also praised the Iraqi Football Association for staging a truly memorable final – one that was befitting to the ever-growing prestige of the competition.
Shaikh Salman added: "The AFC family has long supported the decision to bring football back to the Iraqi people, so many of whom share an undeniable passion for the game.
"This year, we marked a significant milestone with the return of AFC Cup matches to Iraq and I can think of no better way to end another exciting season than in Basra.
"I would like to thank the Iraqi Football Association and the local government for their continued commitment and professionalism and I hope this final will be a stepping stone to see more captivating football competitions and events in Iraq in the future."
Shaikh Salman also thanked all participating clubs and stakeholders of Asian football for guaranteeing yet another successful season of thrilling AFC Cup action.
The AFC President said: "For the second consecutive year, we had more participating clubs than ever before. We also witnessed new attendance records in the group stage not just once, but twice.
"I would like to thank our Member Associations and clubs for their unwavering support as well as all our commercial partners for ensuring the competition continues to increase its appeal and stature as underlined in the AFC's Vision and Mission."
Note to editors: The AFC Cup captures the palpable passion for the game that is so unique to Asia. The AFC Cup showcases the growth of Asian clubs and development across the Continent, as the competition expands its reach to new Member Associations and audiences. A record-breaking 44 clubs from 26 Member Associations competed for a place in the group stage of the AFC Cup in 2018. The number of teams in the group stage also reached a record 36 clubs in 2018.
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