The football players of Ahal earned the right to represent Turkmenistan in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two by defeating Tajik Regar-TadAZ from Tursunzoda 2-1 today in the preliminary round, The Turkmenistan: Golden age electronic newspaper reports.

At stake in the match between the current holder of the 2024 Tajikistan Cup and Ahal held in Tursunzoda at the “TALCO Arena” stadium, was a ticket to the second most important Asian tournament. The winner of this match gained the right to play in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two, while the loser settled for participation in the lower-level AFC Challenge League, which is weaker in terms of level and prize money.

After this victory by Ahal, Turkmenistan for the first time obtained the right to field two clubs in the AFC Champions League Two. Along with the team of the Main Directorate Turkmennebitonumleri, our country will be represented in the group stage of this tournament by FC Arkadag, as the winner of the AFC Challenge League. The opponents of Arkadag and Ahal in the second most important Asian club tournament will be determined in the draw, which will take place on August 15.

Recall that since last season, the Asian Football Confederation reformed club competitions on the continent, establishing three new tournaments: the AFC Champions League Elite for the highest-ranked clubs, the second-tier tournament – AFC Champions League Two, and the lowest-tier – AFC Challenge League.

The AFC Champions League Two is the equivalent of the previously existing AFC Cup, where the highest achievement among Turkmen clubs was reached by Ashgabat’s Altyn Asyr, which reached the final in 2018.