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Asian Football Confederation postpones 2nd-leg knockout ties in West Region

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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the postponement of all second-leg knockout matches in the West Region of its club competitions, extending an earlier decision to delay first-leg fixtures amid ongoing regional instability.

The governing body announced Tuesday that the second-leg matches originally scheduled between March 9 and 11, 2026, will be postponed until further notice. The affected fixtures include the Round of 16 second legs in the AFC Champions League Elite, as well as the quarter-final second legs in the AFC Champions League Two and the AFC Challenge League involving West Region clubs.

The move follows the AFC’s March 1 decision to postpone the first-leg knockout matches in the West Region, citing safety and security concerns.

The confederation stated that the wellbeing of players, officials, supporters and commercial partners remains its top priority. The AFC also stated that updated schedules will be announced in due course.

Teams Affected

In the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 (West Region), the postponed second legs involve leading clubs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Uzbekistan, including:

  • Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia)
  • Al Nassr FC (Saudi Arabia)
  • Al Sadd SC (Qatar)
  • Al Duhail SC (Qatar)
  • Shabab Al Ahli (United Arab Emirates)
  • Persepolis FC (Iran)
  • Sepahan SC (Iran)
  • Navbahor Namangan (Uzbekistan)

In the AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League quarter-finals (West Region), postponed ties involve clubs such as:

  • Al Kuwait SC (Kuwait)
  • Al Wehdat SC (Jordan)
  • Al Riffa SC (Bahrain)
  • Istiklol Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

(Final match pairings are subject to AFC confirmation once new dates are set.)

The AFC Champions League Elite represents the top tier of Asian club football following the competition’s restructuring, while the AFC Champions League Two serves as the second-tier tournament.

The AFC Challenge League provides continental competition opportunities for emerging football nations.

The West Region encompasses clubs from West and Central Asia, while East Region teams — including clubs from Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, and Australia — remain unaffected.

The AFC confirmed that all East Region matches across its competitions will proceed as scheduled.

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OCHA: 15.9 million Afghans face severe food insecurity ahead of winter

The agency said nearly one in three Afghans is facing severe hunger, warning that food insecurity could worsen further during the coming winter months.

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The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that 15.9 million people in Afghanistan are expected to face crisis-level food insecurity or worse as winter approaches, raising concerns over the country’s worsening humanitarian situation.

In a statement posted on X, OCHA said that despite food being available in markets across Afghanistan, millions of people cannot afford to purchase it due to widespread poverty, economic hardship and limited household incomes.

The agency said nearly one in three Afghans is facing severe hunger, warning that food insecurity could worsen further during the coming winter months.

OCHA also raised concerns over child malnutrition, saying more than four million children aged between six months and five years could require treatment for malnutrition in 2027.

The UN agency stressed that humanitarian assistance remains critical to saving lives, but said addressing the crisis requires longer-term investment in livelihoods, essential services and economic opportunities.

OCHA called for urgent international support ahead of winter to help vulnerable families meet their basic needs and prevent further deterioration in food security.

The agency emphasized that combining immediate humanitarian assistance with sustained investment in communities’ resilience is essential to addressing Afghanistan’s ongoing hunger crisis and reducing the impact of future economic and humanitarian shocks.

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Afghanistan’s refugee minister meets new UNAMA chief over returnees, humanitarian aid

The minister further urged the United Nations to help provide essential services in settlements established for returning Afghan refugees.

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Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, has met with Rabab Fatima, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and newly appointed head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), to discuss the challenges facing returning Afghan refugees and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, the meeting focused on providing humanitarian support to vulnerable Afghans, ensuring permanent shelter, creating employment opportunities and facilitating the social reintegration of returnees.

Fatima reportedly assured the Afghan authorities that the United Nations would continue cooperation with them and support efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, sustainable housing and livelihood opportunities for returning refugees.

She also highlighted mobilizing humanitarian aid, expanding international engagement with Afghanistan and addressing human rights concerns as key priorities.

Abdul Kabir, meanwhile, said the Afghan government seeks positive relations with the international community based on the principles of Islamic Sharia, calling on other countries to respect Afghanistan’s Islamic system and territorial integrity.

He also said security had been established across the country and development projects were underway.

The minister further urged the United Nations to help provide essential services in settlements established for returning Afghan refugees.

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Fazlur Rehman calls for international probe into treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan

He emphasized the need for independent international monitoring to ensure that refugees’ concerns and rights receive appropriate attention.

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Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), has called on international organizations to investigate the treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, urging them to visit the country and assess the situation firsthand.

His remarks come amid reports of police raids, harassment and administrative pressure on Afghan refugees, which have reportedly made daily life increasingly difficult for many Afghan families.

Fazlur Rehman urged international organizations to independently examine the situation and document the treatment of Afghan refugees by Pakistani police and government institutions.

He emphasized the need for independent international monitoring to ensure that refugees’ concerns and rights receive appropriate attention.

The treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan remains a humanitarian concern, particularly amid ongoing challenges related to their security, legal status and living conditions.

His call has renewed attention to the need for international oversight and the protection of Afghan refugees in line with humanitarian and human rights principles.

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