2024–25 AFC Challenge League

The 2024–25 AFC Challenge League was the eleventh edition of the Asia's third-tier continental club football competition, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the first season since it was rebranded from the AFC President's Cup to the AFC Challenge League.

2024–25 AFC Challenge League

Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh hosted the final
Tournament details
Dates	Qualifying: 13 August 2024 Competition proper: 26 October 2024 – 10 May 2025
Teams	Competition proper: 18 Total: 20 (from 20 associations)
Final positions
Champions	Arkadag (1st title)
Runners-up	Svay Rieng
Tournament statistics
Matches played	37
Goals scored	103 (2.78 per match)
Attendance	158,383 (4,281 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Altymyrat Annadurdyýew (5 goals)
Best player(s)	Şanazar Tirkişow
Fair play award	Svay Rieng
← 2014 (AFC President's Cup) 2025–26 →

It was the first edition since 2014, when the tournament was re-introduced in 2024 with a revamped format.^[1][2] The final was played on 10 May 2025 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with Turkmenistan club Arkadag defeating Cambodian club Svay Rieng 2–1 to win their first Asian title. Arkadag became the third Turkmenistan club to win the competition. As winners of the tournament Arkadag automatically qualified for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage.

Association team allocation

The associations were allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking,^[3] which was published after the 2022 competitions were completed.^[4]

Participation for 2024–25 AFC Challenge League
	Participating
	Not participating

West Region (3 groups) Rank Member association Points[4] Slots[3] Group stage Play-off Region AFC — — 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two qualifying round losers — 2 0 11 19  Kuwait 20.069 1 0 12 20  Turkmenistan 19.464 1 0 13 22  Lebanon 17.761 1 0 14 23  Syria 17.613 1 0 15 27  Bangladesh 14.121 1 0 16 28  Oman 12.453 1 0 17 29  Maldives 9.467 1 0 18 31  Palestine 5.760 1 0 19 33  Kyrgyzstan 4.308 0 1 20 37    Nepal 0.813 0 1 21 38  Sri Lanka[AFC] 0.630 0 0 22 39  Bhutan 0.465 0 1 23 41  Afghanistan 0.090 0 1 24 42  Pakistan[AFC] 0.000 0 0 24 42  Yemen[AFC] 0.000 0 0 Total Participating associations: 12 10 4 14

East Region (2 groups) Rank Member association Points[4] Slots[3] Group stage Play-off Region AFC 11 25  North Korea[AFC] 16.117 0 0 12 26  Indonesia 15.083 1 0 13 30  Myanmar 8.287 1 0 14 32  Cambodia 5.455 1 0 15 34  Macau[AFC] 2.800 0 0 16 35  Chinese Taipei 2.067 1 0 17 36  Laos 1.362 1 0 18 40  Mongolia 0.250 1 0 19 42  Brunei[AFC] 0.000 0 0 19 42  Guam[AFC] 0.000 0 0 19 42  Northern Mariana Islands[AFC] 0.000 0 0 19 42  Timor-Leste[AFC] 0.000 0 0 Total Participating associations: 6 6 0 6

Notes

1. ^
   AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.^[5]

Teams

The number of appearances and last appearance include the AFC President's Cup as the predecessor of the AFC Challenge League.

West Region Group stage direct entrants Team Qualifying method App. (last) East Bengal 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two qualifying round losers 1st Al-Ahli Club 1st Al-Arabi 2023–24 Kuwaiti Premier League runners-up 1st Arkadag 2023 Ýokary Liga champions 2023 Turkmenistan Cup champions[Note TKM] 1st Nejmeh 2023–24 Lebanese Premier League champions 1st Al-Fotuwa 2023–24 Syrian Premier League champions 1st Bashundhara Kings 2023–24 Bangladesh Premier League champions 1st Al-Seeb 2023–24 Oman Professional League champions 1st Maziya 2023 Dhivehi Premier League champions 1st Hilal Al-Quds 2022–23 West Bank Premier League runners-up[Note PLE] 2nd (2013) Qualifying play-off participants Team Qualifying method App. (last) Abdysh-Ata Kant 2023 Kyrgyz Premier League champions 1st Church Boys United 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League champions 1st Paro 2023 Bhutan Premier League champions 1st Attack Energy 2024 Afghanistan Champions League champions 1st

East Region Group stage direct entrants Team Qualifying method App. (last) Madura United 2023–24 Liga 1 runners-up 1st Shan United 2023 Myanmar National League champions 3rd (2009) Svay Rieng 2023–24 Cambodian Premier League champions 2nd (2014) Tainan City 2023 Taiwan Football Premier League champions 1st Young Elephants 2023 Lao League 1 champions 1st SP Falcons 2023–24 Mongolian National Premier League champions 1st

Notes

1. ^
   Palestine (PLE): Due to the Gaza war, the 2023–24 West Bank Premier League was not organized by the Palestinian Football Association. The teams from Palestine are determined by the results of the 2022–23 West Bank Premier League. Jabal Al-Mukaber, the 2022–23 West Bank Premier League champions, failed to obtain an AFC license. Instead, the runners-up Hilal Al-Quds participate in the AFC Challenge League group stage.^[5]
2. ^
   Turkmenistan (TKM): Arkadag, the 2023 Turkmenistan Cup winners, also won the league title and qualified for the AFC Challenge League group stage as they lacked an AFC Champions League Two license. They were replaced by Altyn Asyr, the 2023 Ýokary Liga runners-up in AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-offs.^[5]

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows.^[6]

Stage	Round	Draw date	First leg	Second leg
Preliminary stage	Preliminary stage	No draw[a]	13 August 2024
Group stage	Matchday 1	22 August 2024	26 October 2024 (West), 27 October 2024 (East)
	Matchday 2		29 October 2024 (West), 30 October 2024 (East)
	Matchday 3		1 November 2024 (West), 2 November 2024 (East)
Knockout stage	Quarter-finals	No draw[a]	5 March 2025 (West), 6 March 2025 (East)	12 March 2025 (West), 13 March 2025 (East)
	Semi-finals		9 April 2025 (West), 10 April 2025 (East)	16 April 2025 (West), 17 April 2025 (East)
	Final		10 May 2025 at Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh

1. Pre-determined format

Preliminary stage

The bracket of the preliminary stage was determined based on each team's association ranking and their seeding within their association, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. The two winners of the preliminary stage advanced to the group stage and joined the 16 direct entrants.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Church Boys United	1–2	Paro
Abdysh-Ata Kant	2–0	Attack Energy

Church Boys United	1–2	Paro
Limbu 38'	Report	Wangchuk 40' Opoku 67'

13 August 2024 (2024-08-13)

18:00 UTC+5:45

Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu^{[note 1]}

Attendance: 9,873

Referee: Wiwat Jumpaoon (Thailand)

---

Abdysh-Ata Kant	2–0	Attack Energy
Dzhumashev 11' Zhyrgalbek 52'	Report

13 August 2024 (2024-08-13)

20:00 UTC+6

Kurmanbek Stadium, Jalal-Abad^{[note 2]}

Attendance: 955

Referee: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia)

Group stage

Main article: 2024–25 AFC Challenge League group stage

The draw for the group stage took place on 22 August at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 18 teams were drawn into five groups: three comprising four teams from the West each (Groups A–C) and two involving three teams from the East each (Groups D–E).^[7] Teams were seeded into pots: four pots for West region and three pots for East region, and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group. Teams of every group will play at a neutral venue of a single-legged tie against every opponent.

Al-Arabi

Arkadag

Nejmeh

Al-Ahli

Al-Fotuwa

East Bengal

Abdysh-Ata Kant

Bashundhara Kings

Al-Seeb

Maziya

Hilal Al-Quds

Madura United

Shan United

Svay Rieng

Tainan City

Young Elephants

SP Falcons

Paro

Location of the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League group stage teams
Brown: Group A; Cyan: Group B; Orange: Group C; Yellow: Group D; Red: Group E

West Region

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		EAB	NJM	PAR	BSK
1	East Bengal	3	2	1	0	9	4	+5	7	Advance to Quarter-finals			3–2	2–2
2	Nejmeh	3	2	0	1	5	4	+1	6						1–0
3	Paro (H)	3	1	1	1	5	5	0	4				1–2
4	Bashundhara Kings	3	0	0	3	1	7	−6	0			0–4		1–2

Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		AKG	AAK	ABD	MAZ
1	Arkadag	3	2	0	1	6	4	+2	6[a]	Advance to Quarter-finals					2–1
2	Al-Arabi (H)	3	2	0	1	5	3	+2	6[a]			3–2		0–1
3	Abdysh-Ata Kant	3	2	0	1	4	2	+2	6[a]			0–2
4	Maziya	3	0	0	3	1	7	−6	0				0–2	0–3

Source: AFC
(H) Hosts
Notes:

1. Head-to-head goal difference: Arkadag +1; Al-Arabi 0; Abdysh-Ata Kant –1.

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		ASB	AAM	AFT	HAQ
1	Al-Seeb (H)	3	3	0	0	9	0	+9	9	Advance to Quarter-finals			1–0		3–0
2	Al-Ahli Club	3	0	2	1	1	2	−1	2[a]					1–1	0–0
3	Al-Fotuwa	3	0	2	1	1	6	−5	2[a]			0–5
4	Hilal Al-Quds	3	0	2	1	0	3	−3	2[a]					0–0

Source: AFC
(H) Hosts
Notes:

1. Head-to-head goals scored: Al-Ahli Club 1, Al-Fotuwa 1, Hilal Al-Quds 0;
   Overall goal difference: Al-Ahli Club –1, Al-Fotuwa –5.

Ranking of runners-up teams

Pos	Grp	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	B	Al-Arabi	3	2	0	1	5	3	+2	6	Advance to Quarter-finals
2	A	Nejmeh	3	2	0	1	5	4	+1	6
3	C	Al-Ahli Club	3	0	2	1	1	2	−1	2

Source: AFC

East Region

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		SNU	TNC	YEP
1	Shan United (H)	2	1	1	0	4	2	+2	4	Advance to Quarter-finals			2–2
2	Tainan City	2	1	1	0	5	4	+1	4					3–2
3	Young Elephants	2	0	0	2	2	5	−3	0			0–2

Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group E

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		MDU	SVR	SPF
1	Madura United	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1	4	Advance to Quarter-finals			2–1
2	Svay Rieng	2	1	0	1	3	3	0	3					2–1
3	SP Falcons (H)	2	0	1	1	1	2	−1	1			0–0

Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Knockout stage

Main article: 2024–25 AFC Challenge League knockout stage

Bracket

	Quarter-finals							Semi-finals							Final
	E2	Svay Rieng	6	1	7
	D1	Shan United	2	2	4
								Svay Rieng		3	3	6
	East Region
								Madura United		0	3	3
	D2	Tainan City	0	0	0
	E1	Madura United	0	3	3
															Svay Rieng		1
															Arkadag (a.e.t.)		2
	B2	Al-Arabi (a.e.t.)	1	2	3
	C1	Al-Seeb	0	2	2
								Al-Arabi		2	0	2
	West Region
								Arkadag		0	3	3
	A1	East Bengal	0	1	1
	B1	Arkadag	1	2	3

Quarter-finals

In the quarter-finals, the eight qualified teams played in two ties, with the matchups and order of legs determined by the group stage draw and the identity of the best runners-up in the West region.

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
West Region
Al-Arabi	3–2	Al-Seeb	1–0	2–2 (a.e.t.)
East Bengal	1–3	Arkadag	0–1	1–2
East Region
Svay Rieng	7–4	Shan United	6–2	1–2
Tainan City	0–3	Madura United	0–0	0–3

Semi-finals

In the semi-finals, the winners of quarter-finals from each region faced each other in a two-legged tie. The winners of each tie advanced to the final.

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
West Region
Al-Arabi	2–3	Arkadag	2–0	0–3
East Region
Svay Rieng	6–3	Madura United	3–0	3–3

Final

Main article: 2025 AFC Challenge League final

In the final, the winners of the each semi-finals played each other, with the host team alternating every season. The winners would be given a direct slot for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage, if not already qualified through the domestic performance.

Svay Rieng	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Arkadag
Krya 82'	Report	Saparow 59' Annadurdyýew 112'

10 May 2025 (2025-05-10)

19:00 UTC+7

Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh

Attendance: 51,610^[8]

Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)

Top scorers

  Team eliminated for this round.

  Player is not in the team but the team is still active for this round.

Rank	Player	Team	MD1	MD2	MD3	QF1	QF2	SF1	SF2	F1	Total
1	Altymyrat Annadurdyýew	Arkadag	1				2		1	1	5
2	Dimitrios Diamantakos	East Bengal	1	1	2						4
	Cristian Roque	Svay Rieng		1		3
	Ye Yint Aung	Shan United	2		1		1
	Min Ratanak	Svay Rieng			1	1		1	1
6	Zahir Al-Aghbari	Al Seeb	2		1						3
7	Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbali	Al Seeb	1		1						2
	Ali Khalaf	Al Arabi							2
	Şanazar Tirkişow	Arkadag							2
	Toninho	Tainan City		1	1
	Brylian Aldama	Young Elephants		2
	Bounphachan Bounkong	Svay Rieng						1	1

Note

• Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)

See also

• 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite
• 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two
• 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League

Notes

1. Church Boys United played their home matches at Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, instead of their regular home stadium Chyasal Stadium, Lalitpur.
2. Abdysh-Ata Kant played their home matches at Kurmanbek Stadium, Jalal-Abad, instead of their regular home stadium Stadion Sportkompleks Abdysh-Ata, Kant.