2023 AFC Asian Cup Group F

Group F of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup took place from 16 to 25 January 2024.[1] The group consisted of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Oman.[2] The top two teams, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, advanced to the round of 16.

Teams

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Draw position Team Zone Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
April 2023[nb 1] December 2023
F1   Saudi Arabia WAFF Second round Group D winners 15 June 2021 11th 2019 Winners (1984, 1988, 1996) 54 56
F2   Thailand AFF Third round Group C runners-up 14 June 2022 8th 2019 Third place (1972) 114 113
F3   Kyrgyzstan CAFA Third round Group F runners-up 14 June 2022 2nd 2019 Round of 16 (2019) 96 98
F4   Oman WAFF Second round Group E runners-up 15 June 2021 5th 2019 Round of 16 (2019) 73 74

Notes

  1. ^ The rankings of April 2023 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Saudi Arabia 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Thailand 3 1 2 0 2 0 +2 5
3   Oman 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
4   Kyrgyzstan 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Matches

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Thailand vs Kyrgyzstan

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Thailand and Kyrgyzstan only met each other just once, a friendly in 2001 where Thailand won 3–1.

Thailand quickly proved their worth with an offside goal in the 15th minute, before dealing a fatal blow to Kyrgyzstan in the 26th minute when Bordin Phala delivered a long-range shot, then Supachai Chaided quickly approached the ball following a deflection from Erzhan Tokotayev's save to hit the net and give Thailand the lead. Chaided then closed the game in the 49th minute when in a major offensive, Theerathon Bunmathan delivered a spectacular high pass for Phala, who then provided a fickle for Supachok Sarachat to take a header; despite the header hitting the back of Tamirlan Kozubaev, Chaided was quick to approach before sending the ball to the net. Thailand then set up an extremely effective defence to neutralise opportunities of Kyrgyzstan as the Thais held firm for the win.

This was the first time Thailand won an opening match of the AFC Asian Cup, with their best record prior to this historic win being three draws and four losses.

Thailand  2–0  Kyrgyzstan
  • Supachai   26', 48'
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thailand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kyrgyzstan
GK 23 Patiwat Khammai
RB 12 Nicholas Mickelson   81'
CB 17 Pansa Hemviboon
CB 4 Elias Dolah
LB 3 Theerathon Bunmathan (c)   8'
CM 18 Weerathep Pomphan
CM 25 Peeradon Chamratsamee   46'
RW 10 Suphanat Mueanta   69'
AM 7 Supachok Sarachat   88'
LW 11 Bordin Phala   69'
CF 9 Supachai Chaided   78'
Substitutions:
MF 6 Sarach Yooyen   46'
MF 19 Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom   69'
MF 13 Jaroensak Wonggorn   90+7'   69'
FW 15 Teerasak Poeiphimai   78'
MF 24 Worachit Kanitsribampen   88'
Manager:
  Masatada Ishii
GK 1 Erzhan Tokotayev
RB 18 Kayrat Zhyrgalbek uulu
CB 3 Tamirlan Kozubaev (c)
CB 5 Ayzar Akmatov   75'
LB 11 Bekzhan Sagynbayev
RM 15 Kai Merk   54'
CM 12 Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov
CM 20 Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov   46'
LM 10 Gulzhigit Alykulov   21'   69'
CF 7 Joel Kojo   69'
CF 24 Kimi Merk
Substitutions:
MF 21 Farkhat Musabekov   46'
DF 2 Khristiyan Brauzman   54'
FW 9 Ernist Batyrkanov   90+3'   69'
MF 19 Beknaz Almazbekov   69'
DF 17 Suyuntbek Mamyraliev   75'
Manager:
  Štefan Tarkovič

Man of the Match:
Patiwat Khammai (Thailand)

Assistant referees:
Mohammad Al-Kalaf (Jordan)
Ahmad Al-Roalle (Jordan)
Fourth official:
Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
Reserve assistant referee:
Kim Kyoung-min (South Korea)
Video assistant referee:
Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Hasan Al-Mahri (United Arab Emirates)

Saudi Arabia vs Oman

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Saudi Arabia and Oman faced each other in the Asian Cup for the first time. In competitive fixtures, Saudi Arabia had never lost to Oman, with two draws and two wins, which their most recent encounters happened during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, which Saudi Arabia gained 1–0 win each.

The match kickstarted in high tempo as Oman surprised Saudi Arabia with their energetic midfield group. At the ninth minute, a failed corner attempt by the Saudis saw Salaah Al-Yahyaei pull a speedy run into the Saudi defence before his effort was denied, but not without his teammate Muhsen Al-Ghassani's quick incursion into the Saudi penalty area, during which his feet got stomped by Hassan Al-Tambakti; later VAR decision gave Oman the penalty, and Al-Yahyaei didn't miss the opportunity at the 15th minute. Later, Oman set up a highly cohesive defence system to deny Saudi Arabia from scoring, but it could not withstand in the 78th minute when from the midfield, Mohamed Kanno passed back to Ali Lajami, who then set up a decisive pass for Abdulrahman Ghareeb as he successfully soloed over a rain of Omani defenders before curving beautifully to level the score. Drama came in the sixth minute of extra time in the second half, when from a corner from Ghareeb sent to Lajami, who then gave a high pass to Ali Al-Bulaihi as he headed into the net of Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini; initially, the goal was disallowed for offside before it was thought to withstand due to a misunderstanding between the VAR team and the referee, only for the decision to be reversed as the Saudis triumphed in a hard-fought match, leaving Omani players in despair with this devastating loss.

Saudi Arabia  2–1  Oman
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Saudi Arabia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oman
GK 22 Ahmed Al-Kassar
CB 17 Hassan Al-Tambakti   13'
CB 5 Ali Al-Bulaihi
CB 4 Ali Lajami
RWB 12 Saud Abdulhamid
LWB 24 Nasser Al-Dawsari
CM 15 Abdullah Al-Khaibari   75'
CM 16 Sami Al-Najei   63'
CM 23 Mohamed Kanno   83'
CF 11 Saleh Al-Shehri   75'
CF 10 Salem Al-Dawsari (c)   83'
Substitutions:
FW 20 Abdullah Radif   63'
MF 18 Abdulrahman Ghareeb   75'
MF 7 Mukhtar Ali   75'
MF 26 Faisal Al-Ghamdi   83'
FW 9 Firas Al-Buraikan   83'
Manager:
  Roberto Mancini
GK 1 Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini
RB 4 Arshad Al-Alawi
CB 16 Khalid Al-Braiki
CB 6 Ahmed Al-Khamisi
LB 14 Ahmed Al-Kaabi
DM 23 Harib Al-Saadi (c)
CM 10 Jameel Al-Yahmadi
CM 12 Abdullah Fawaz   73'
AM 20 Salaah Al-Yahyaei   78'
CF 7 Issam Al-Sabhi   46'
CF 11 Muhsen Al-Ghassani   73'
Substitutions:
MF 13 Mataz Saleh   46'
MF 24 Tamim Al-Balushi   73'   87'
FW 26 Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri   73'
MF 3 Fahmi Durbin   78'
DF 17 Ali Al-Busaidi   87'
Manager:
  Branko Ivanković

Man of the Match:
Salaah Al-Yahyaei (Oman)

Assistant referees:
Anton Shchetinin (Australia)
Ashley Beecham (Australia)
Fourth official:
Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)
Reserve assistant referee:
Ahmad Abbas (Kuwait)
Video assistant referee:
Kate Jacewicz (Australia)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Jumpei Iida (Japan)

Oman vs Thailand

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Oman and Thailand had faced each other 12 times with Oman slightly dominating Thailand with six wins to five. In term of Asian Cup meetings however, Thailand and Oman are equal, with the most recent Asian Cup meeting in 2007 ended with Thailand winning 2–0. However, the most recent competitive fixture, as part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, saw Oman triumph 2–0. All five Thai wins over Oman happened at home and none had ever occurred in Omani or neutral ground.

The match started with Thailand surprisingly going offensive and a dangerous header from Elias Dolah at the 16th minute of the match saw his header denied by Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini before it went wild. Oman gradually reasserted control of the match but not until the second half that they relentlessly put Thailand on the defence, in particular with numerous attacking efforts, but none of the Omani strikers could clinically finish the game as Oman were forced to settle with a draw to an increasingly conservative Thai side that laid low to successfully hold the scoreline goalless.

It was the first time ever Thailand managed to have two consecutive clean sheets at the AFC Asian Cup, a feat never achieved in their participation history, although Thailand remained unable to break the poor record in neutral and away ground to Oman (drawn two, lost five).

Oman  0–0  Thailand
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thailand
GK 1 Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini
RB 4 Arshad Al-Alawi   67'
CB 16 Khalid Al-Braiki
CB 6 Ahmed Al-Khamisi
LB 14 Ahmed Al-Kaabi
DM 23 Harib Al-Saadi (c)
CM 10 Jameel Al-Yahmadi
CM 12 Abdullah Fawaz   67'
AM 20 Salaah Al-Yahyaei
CF 7 Issam Al-Sabhi   81'
CF 11 Muhsen Al-Ghassani   90'
Substitutions:
FW 26 Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri   67'
FW 8 Zahir Al-Aghbari   67'
MF 9 Omar Al-Malki   81'
FW 25 Abdullah Al-Mushaifri   90'
Manager:
  Branko Ivanković
GK 23 Patiwat Khammai
RB 12 Nicholas Mickelson
CB 17 Pansa Hemviboon
CB 4 Elias Dolah
LB 3 Theerathon Bunmathan (c)   57'
CM 18 Weerathep Pomphan   86'
CM 25 Peeradon Chamratsamee   90'
RW 10 Suphanat Mueanta   86'
AM 7 Supachok Sarachat
LW 11 Bordin Phala   71'
CF 9 Supachai Chaided
Substitutions:
MF 13 Jaroensak Wonggorn   71'
MF 19 Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom   86'
DF 21 Suphanan Bureerat   86'
MF 6 Sarach Yooyen   90'
Manager:
  Masatada Ishii

Man of the Match:
Salaah Al-Yahyaei (Oman)

Assistant referees:
Saeid Ghasemi (Iran)
Alireza Ildorom (Iran)
Fourth official:
Alireza Faghani (Australia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Abdul Hannan Bin Abdul Hasim (Singapore)
Video assistant referee:
Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)

Kyrgyzstan vs Saudi Arabia

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Kyrgyzstan only met Saudi Arabia twice, both during the 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification, which Saudi Arabia won 5–0 on aggregate.

Saudi Arabia got off to a dream start when a brutal foul by Ayzar Akmatov on Sami Al-Najei near Kyrgyzstan's penalty area at the 7th minute resulted in his dismissal. With one-man advantage, Saudi Arabia eventually broke through at the 35th minute when from a long-range shot by Abdulellah Al-Malki, the ball hit the right post before it deflected to Saud Abdulhamid, before Abdulhamid gave the ball to Mohamed Kanno with a clinical close-range pass and Kanno volleyed into the net. Things only became better for the Saudis when another dangerous foul from Kimi Merk on Hassan Al-Tambakti at the 50th minute resulted in Kyrgyzstan reduce to nine men. Despite massive numerical advantage however, it was not until the 85th minute when, from a failed clearance by the Kyrgyz midfielders, the ball was sent to Faisal Al-Ghamdi from Mukhtar Ali, before Al-Ghamdi scored a rather lucky goal when Erzhan Tokotayev's attempt to punch the ball away instead hit home to secure Saudi Arabia's win.

Kyrgyzstan  0–2  Saudi Arabia
Report
Attendance: 39,557
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kyrgyzstan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Saudi Arabia
GK 1 Erzhan Tokotayev
CB 2 Khristiyan Brauzman   22'
CB 5 Ayzar Akmatov   9'
CB 3 Tamirlan Kozubaev
RWB 11 Bekzhan Sagynbayev   87'
LWB 14 Aleksandr Mishchenko   42'
RM 18 Kayrat Zhyrgalbek uulu (c)   73'
CM 12 Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov   73'
CM 24 Kimi Merk   52'
LM 10 Gulzhigit Alykulov   64'
CF 9 Ernist Batyrkanov   64'
Substitutions:
DF 20 Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov   64'
MF 23 Nurdoolot Stalbekov   64'
MF 15 Kai Merk   73'
MF 4 Adil Kadyrzhanov   73'
DF 6 Amantur Shamurzaev   87'
Manager:
  Štefan Tarkovič
GK 22 Ahmed Al-Kassar
CB 17 Hassan Al-Tambakti   54'
CB 4 Ali Lajami
CB 5 Ali Al-Bulaihi
RM 12 Saud Abdulhamid
CM 16 Sami Al-Najei   64'
CM 8 Abdulellah Al-Malki   77'
CM 23 Mohamed Kanno
LM 25 Mohammed Al-Breik
CF 9 Firas Al-Buraikan   77'
CF 10 Salem Al-Dawsari (c)   64'
Substitutions:
FW 11 Saleh Al-Shehri   63'   54'
MF 18 Abdulrahman Ghareeb   64'
FW 20 Abdullah Radif   64'
MF 7 Mukhtar Ali   77'
MF 26 Faisal Al-Ghamdi   77'
Manager:
  Roberto Mancini

Man of the Match:
Saud Abdulhamid (Saudi Arabia)

Assistant referees:
Jun Mihara (Japan)
Takumi Takagi (Japan)
Fourth official:
Ma Ning (China)
Reserve assistant referee:
Zhou Fei (China)
Video assistant referee:
Fu Ming (China)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Yusuke Araki (Japan)

Saudi Arabia vs Thailand

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Saudi Arabia and Thailand had met each other 16 times, with Saudi Arabia overwhelmingly dominant with 14 wins. In Asian Cup finals, Saudi Arabia met Thailand twice in 1992 and 1996, both times the Saudis won. Saudi Arabia had been more dominant than Thailand in other competitive fixtures, with their most recent meetings during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification ended with Saudi Arabia winning 4–0 on aggregate.

The first attempt for the back of the net came from Abdullah Radif's penalty, following an earlier foul by Suphan Thongsong on Abdulrahman Ghareeb, but Radif squandered the opportunity. The match then went to the most bizarre way in the competition as possible, with Saudi Arabia and Thailand, having rotated most of their teams due to their early progressions, scored four times only to be disallowed all by VAR; first, Jaroensak Wonggorn's pass for Teerasak Poeiphimai's header was disallowed for Teerasak's offside at the 15th minute; followed by Radif's goal with the provide by Abdullah Al-Khaibari just a minute later also disallowed; then, at the 35th minute, from a curl to the penalty area by Santiphap Channgom, Teerasak headed to Worachit Kanitsribampen to score only to again ruled out for offside; before it finally ended with Al-Khaibari's long-range pass for Ghareeb to sprint over and score only to end up ruled out again at the 57th minute, as both teams were forced to settle for a draw despite consistent Saudi domination and pressure.

With this outcome, it marked Thailand's best ever AFC Asian Cup performance, with three consecutive shutouts and the first time ever they advanced past two consecutive Asian Cup group stages, both were Thailand's first in their participation history. It was also the first time since the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification that Thailand did not lose to Saudi Arabia in a competitive fixture, and also the first in the history that Thailand did not lose to Saudi Arabia at the AFC Asian Cup.

Saudi Arabia  0–0  Thailand
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Saudi Arabia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thailand
GK 21 Raghed Al-Najjar
CB 13 Hassan Kadesh   64'
CB 3 Awn Al-Saluli
CB 5 Ali Al-Bulaihi
RM 2 Fawaz Al-Sqoor   79'
CM 26 Faisal Al-Ghamdi   64'
CM 15 Abdullah Al-Khaibari
LM 7 Mukhtar Ali   87'
RF 18 Abdulrahman Ghareeb   35'
CF 20 Abdullah Radif   64'
LF 10 Salem Al-Dawsari (c)
Substitutions:
MF 24 Nasser Al-Dawsari   64'
DF 25 Mohammed Al-Breik   64'
FW 14 Talal Haji   64'
MF 23 Mohamed Kanno   79'
FW 11 Saleh Al-Shehri   87'
Manager:
  Roberto Mancini
GK 20 Saranon Anuin
RB 21 Suphanan Bureerat
CB 26 Suphan Thongsong
CB 16 Jakkapan Praisuwan
LB 2 Santiphap Channgom
CM 5 Kritsada Kaman   65'
CM 6 Sarach Yooyen (c)
RW 13 Jaroensak Wonggorn   88'
AM 24 Worachit Kanitsribampen   74'
LW 19 Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom   88'
CF 15 Teerasak Poeiphimai   74'
Substitutions:
MF 18 Weerathep Pomphan   65'
FW 9 Supachai Chaided   74'
MF 25 Peeradon Chamratsamee   74'
MF 14 Rungrath Poomchantuek   88'
MF 22 Channarong Promsrikaew   88'
Manager:
  Masatada Ishii

Man of the Match:
Saranon Anuin (Thailand)

Assistant referees:
Yoon Jae-yeol (South Korea)
Park Sang-jun (South Korea)
Fourth official:
Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Reserve assistant referee:
Timur Gaynullin (Uzbekistan)
Video assistant referee:
Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)

Kyrgyzstan vs Oman

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Kyrgyzstan and Oman faced each other in a competitive Asian Cup finals for the first time. In term of competitive fixtures, they met twice, the most recent one occurred during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification where Kyrgyzstan shocked Oman with a 1–0 win.

Oman started on a bright note when, from a perfectly combined corner kick, Muhsen Al-Ghassani headed home at the eighth minute following chaotic attempts by both the Kyrgyz and Omanis to gain field; VAR later confirmed after the ball landed over the line. Oman then poured even further pressure to find further goals, but as Oman wasted numerous opportunities later on, warnings of cracks on Omani defence started to appear when at the 47th minute Joel Kojo, receiving a deliver from Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov, headed home only to be found offside. Eventually, Oman were made to pay at the 80th minute, when from a long-range delivery by Farkhat Musabekov, Khalid Al-Braiki and Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini miscommunicated to each other while trying to prevent Kojo, allowing Kojo to find the back of the net at the disbelief of Al-Mukhaini. Despite further attempts, none could find goal as they were forced to end their tournament at the group stages.

This result meant Kyrgyzstan failed to advance past the group stage for the first time after successfully advancing at their debut in 2019. For Oman, this was their worst AFC Asian Cup performance since the 2007 edition, both winning just two points.

Kyrgyzstan  1–1  Oman
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kyrgyzstan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oman
GK 1 Erzhan Tokotayev
CB 2 Khristiyan Brauzman
CB 3 Tamirlan Kozubaev (c)
CB 17 Suyuntbek Mamyraliev   46'
RM 14 Aleksandr Mishchenko   88'
CM 20 Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov
CM 12 Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov
LM 10 Gulzhigit Alykulov   43'   46'
AM 21 Farkhat Musabekov   88'
CF 9 Ernist Batyrkanov   90+1'
CF 7 Joel Kojo
Substitutions:
MF 15 Kai Merk   46'
MF 19 Beknaz Almazbekov   78'   46'
MF 4 Adil Kadyrzhanov   88'
DF 6 Amantur Shamurzaev   88'
MF 23 Nurdoolot Stalbekov   90+1'
Manager:
  Štefan Tarkovič
GK 1 Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini
RB 4 Arshad Al-Alawi   89'
CB 16 Khalid Al-Braiki
CB 6 Ahmed Al-Khamisi   4'   31'
LB 14 Ahmed Al-Kaabi
DM 23 Harib Al-Saadi (c)
CM 10 Jameel Al-Yahmadi   90+2'
CM 12 Abdullah Fawaz   67'
AM 20 Salaah Al-Yahyaei
CF 26 Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri
CF 11 Muhsen Al-Ghassani   67'
Substitutions:
MF 3 Fahmi Durbin   31'
FW 7 Issam Al-Sabhi   67'
FW 8 Zahir Al-Aghbari   67'
FW 25 Abdullah Al-Mushaifri   89'
Manager:
  Branko Ivanković

Man of the Match:
Salaah Al-Yahyaei (Oman)

Assistant referees:
Abdulhadi Al-Anezi (Kuwait)
Ahmad Abbas (Kuwait)
Fourth official:
Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mohammad Al-Kalaf (Jordan)
Video assistant referee:
Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Shaun Evans (Australia)

Discipline

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Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:

  • first yellow card: −1 point;
  • indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
  • direct red card: −3 points;
  • yellow card and direct red card: −4 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Points
                                   
  Oman 2 –2
  Saudi Arabia 1 1 1 –3
  Thailand 3 1 –4
  Kyrgyzstan 2 2 2 2 –12

References

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  1. ^ ""Match Schedule – AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023"" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. ^ "#AsianCup2023 Groups Finalised". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
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