Al Nassr’s path to the Asian title has become clearer following a significant administrative decision from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Saudi club has officially qualified for the AFC Champions League final for the 2023-2024 season.
The development comes after the AFC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee issued its final verdict on Monday, April 29, 2024, regarding the complaint filed by Al Ain against Al Nassr. The UAE club had protested the eligibility of Al Nassr’s player, David Ospina, during the second leg of the quarter-final match, which ended with Al Nassr winning 4-3 on penalties after a 4-4 aggregate draw.
The AFC committee thoroughly reviewed the complaint and the attached documents. It concluded that the protest was not submitted within the required timeframe stipulated in the competition regulations. Consequently, the committee decided to reject Al Ain’s protest entirely and consider the matter closed.
This final decision confirms Al Nassr’s official qualification for the AFC Champions League final. They are scheduled to face the winner of the other semi-final clash between Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Ulsan HD of South Korea. The first leg of that tie ended with Al Hilal securing a 2-0 advantage.
The first leg of the AFC Champions League final is set for May 11, 2024, with the return leg taking place on May 18, 2024. Al Nassr will now await their opponent, having successfully navigated both sporting and administrative hurdles to reach this decisive stage.
