May 17 – Gamba Osaka’s 1-0 AFC Champions League Two final win over Al Nassr in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, makes the Japanese club the first in the East region to capture both the top-tier and second-tier titles in AFC club football.
The victory over Al Nassr was Gamba’s first continental trophy since their 2008 AFC Champions League campaign.
Deniz Hummet’s 30th minute strike from a Issam Jebali assist secured the win at the sold-out King Saud University Stadium on Saturday.
Al Nassr, despite their superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane, had dominated play up to that point and could have easily been ahead through attempts by Joao Felix, Inigo Martinez, Ronaldo and Mane, but Gamba’s 18-year-old goalkeeper Rui Araki was a match for the efforts of the football royalty attacking his goal.
With Al Nassr stepping up their pace as the match progressed, so the Japanese dug in deeper in front of the partisan Saudi support. But it wasn’t to be and Gamba prevented a Saudi double in AFC 2025-26 club competition finals – earlier this month Al Ahli won the AFC Champions League Elite final 1-0 against Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, congratulating both Gamba and Al Nassr, saying: “This triumph establishes a remarkable new benchmark for both clubs. It also highlights the phenomenal growth and exceptional calibre of club football within Saudi Arabia and Japan and credit must go to both the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Japan Football Association for building an enduring footballing philosophy and tradition of excellence.”
The final stages of the Champions League Two were carried out against the backdrop of the wider global uncertainties created by the middle eastern conflicts that had delayed schedules and complicated logistics.
Salman recognised the efforts of the West Region Knockout Stage and Final hosts – the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“Our sincere appreciation must be extended to the United Arab Emirates Football Association and the local authorities for hosting the centralised Quarter-final and Semi-final stages in Dubai. Their unwavering commitment was exemplary in ensuring a seamless, and competitive platform,” said Salman.
“Equally, I express my sincere thanks to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Local Organising Committee for providing a magnificent and fitting world-class stage to crown our champions, demonstrating their remarkable capability to host Asia’s most prestigious spectacles,” he continued.
“Faced with global challenges that brought much of the sporting world to a standstill, the Asian football family stood united. The ultimate success of this club season reflects the unyielding grit and solidarity of our Member Associations, participating clubs, and officials. I extend my profound gratitude to all our teams, commercial partners, and passionate fans whose fierce loyalty and bravery guaranteed the safe and glorious conclusion of this historic season.”
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