Last-16 set as RSL trio round off AFC Champions League Elite group in… — and more

The West Region league stage of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite concluded on Tuesday night, with our Roshn Saudi League clubs making up three of the top four slots.

Al Hilal finished at the head of the 12-team standings with 22 points from a possible 24, the current RSL leaders qualifying for the knockouts as the only unbeaten side in the entire competition - west and east.

Al Ahli, who last year landed a historic first Asian crown, made it an RSL one-two at the summit on the western side, while Jeddah rivals - and reigning Saudi champions - Al Ittihad took fourth spot.

The trio advance to the last 16, which will be played next month across home and away legs. Then, just like last year, the tournament’s closing rounds - quarter-finals to final - will be staged in Jeddah.

Here’s how our three teams booked their spots in the knockouts, and who they'll meet in the next round.

Al Hilal

The record four-time Asian champions topped the West Region by going undefeated across the campaign. Indeed, Al Hilal reeled off seven victories from eight, the goalless draw at UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli on Matchday 7 representing their only dropped points.

Simone Inzaghi’s side rounded off the league phase on Monday with a 2-1 victory at home to another Emirati outfit, Al Wahda. Darwin Nunez, the summer signing from English giants Liverpool, got both the hosts’ goals at Kingdom Arena.

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Al Ahli

The current title-holders proved they’re not going to relinquish their crown without a fight, finishing second in the West Region to RSL championship rivals Al Hilal.

Al Ahli, who sit third in the 2025-26 Saudi top flight, won five of their eight games on the continent, losing twice, and have generally looked excellent in defence of the trophy.

With 21 goals, including another impressive haul in Monday’s 4-3 victory at home to Shabab Al Ahli, Matthias Jaissle’s men rank as the 2025-26 tournament’s second-highest scorers, behind fellow Jeddah giants Al Ittihad.

Last-16 match-up: Al Duhail (Qatar)

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Al Ittihad

The league phase’s top scorers (22 goals), searching for a third Asian crown and first since the second of back-to-back titles in 2005, recovered brilliantly after losing the opening two matchdays to ultimately come home fourth.

To their immense credit, Al Ittihad reeled off five victories from their remaining six fixtures, culminating in Tuesday night’s 4-1 triumph away to Qatar’s Al Sadd.

New signing Youssef En Nesyri was on the scoresheet yet again - a goal in a third successive appearance for Al Ittihad - while fellow fresh recruit Stephane Keller marked his debut by finding the net, too.

Discover the complete schedule for the 2025-2026 CAF Confederation Cup all the way to the final

Maniema Union/@MU

The race for the ultimate crown in the 2025-2026 CAF Confederation Cup promises to be more open than ever.

Several clubs have made a strong impression in the group stage, notably Wydad (Casablanca), USM Alger (Algeria), as well as Al Masry and Zamalek (Egypt).

Quarter-finals (first leg March 15, 2026 / second leg March 22, 2026)

Al-Masry Sporting Club (Egypt) vs Chabab Belouizdad (Algeria)

Olympique de Safi (Morocco) vs Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

AS Otoho d’Oyo (Congo) vs Zamalek (Egypt)

Maniema Union (Democratic Republic of Congo) vs USM Alger (Algeria)

Semi-finals (first leg April 12, 2026 / second leg April 19, 2026)

Winner Maniema Union (Democratic Republic of Congo) – USM Alger (Algeria) vs winner Olympique de Safi (Morocco) – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

vs winner AS Otoho d’Oyo (Congo) – Zamalek (Egypt)

Final (first leg May 9 / second leg May 16)

Jose Mourinho was criticised by Clarence Seedorf after appearing to suggest that Vinicius Jr had provoked racist abuse by celebrating his goal for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League and inciting the scenes that followed.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius had sent Madrid into the lead in Lisbon with a superb strike in the early stages of the second half before dancing by the corner flag in front of the home supporters. He was booked by the referee for an excessive celebration.

Before the match resumed, Vinicius exchanged words with Benfica’s Ginaluca Prestianni and reported the player to the referee over an alleged racist remark.

In a statement on Instagram, Benfica winger Prestianni said he had not directed racist insults at Vinicius who he said had "regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard".

But the match was paused for 11 minutes, as the referee followed Fifa’s racist abuse protocols, with Mourinho seen talking to several Madrid players, including Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, as tensions rose in the stadium.

Mourinho was later sent off for demanding a second booking for Vinicius after a foul from the Brazilian. Mourinho stormed towards the fourth official but was himself cautioned for his protests, but continued remonstrating and was promptly shown a second yellow card.

Speaking after the match, Mourinho said he had spoken to both Vinicius and Prestianni nd could not be biased against either player. But he criticised Vinicius for his goal celebration.

“It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game... these talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he [Vinicius] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over. When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way.”

Mourinho was asked if Vinicius had “incited” the Benfica players and the crowd with his celebration and he responded: “Yeah, I believe so. The words they exchange, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don’t comment about it.”

The Portuguese manager then revealed his own talks with Vinicius and explained what he had told the winger during the pause in play.

“I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back,” Mourinho added. “And then when he was arguing about racism I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.

“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays [in] something happens. Always.

“I’m saying that it was a good 50 minutes of football, millions of people watching around the world, a crazy goal absolutely crazy goal and then game over.”

Amazon Prime pundits Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott seemed stunned by Mourinho’s comments with Rooney labelling them “unfair” and Seedorf saying Mourinho made a ‘big mistake’.

“As he said he’s trying to stay independent but I think it was very unfair what he said about Vinicius,” Rooney said when pressed for comment by presenter Gabby Logan.

Seedorf further explained by adding: “I think he's [Jose Mourinho] is still emotional. I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I'm not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today. He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he's saying it's okay when Vinicius provokes you, that is it okay to be racist and I think that is very wrong.

“We should never, ever justify racial abuse. And Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. And I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunately I believe. Because we should not be telling the people at home that someone makes a dance or something then it's okay to be racist.”

Theo Walcott plainly finished: “That's the one time we shouldn't have heard from him [Mourinho], tonight he should not have been in front of the cameras.”

Kanadas curlingherrar anklagas för fusk. I hemlandet är befolkningen kritisk. – De borde veta bättre, och framför allt när de spelar i OS, säger en kvinna till BBC.