The winner of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Challenge League Cup and the strongest club in Turkmenistan in the 2024/2025 season, FC Arkadag will play its first match in the group stage of the 2025/2026 AFC Champions League II today. This will be the Turkmen team's first appearance in this prestigious continental tournament.

The Arkadag sports team will face FC Andijon from Uzbekistan.

Here's what the teams' head coaches said at the press conference preceding the crucial match, according to a Takyk correspondent.

Arkadag FC coach Rovshen Mukhadov:

"We studied the strengths and weaknesses of the Andijon team based on their performance in the Uzbekistan Championship and determined a preparation strategy based on the video footage we reviewed.

This is naturally a great celebration for our numerous and loyal fans, and we will do our best to give it to them. Arkadag, as the leading professional football club in Turkmenistan, has set the bar high. I want to assure you that we will continue in the same spirit, because there are no weak teams in this league. It's important to remember that the tournament features a team featuring one of the world's most decorated footballers, European champion and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

It won't be an easy game, but we will do everything possible to win. Arkadag is almost 100 percent ready, despite the fact that the Turkmenistan championship has only just begun. In the match against Andijon, the right substitutions could play a key role. Overall, we are confident in our abilities!

Andijon FC Head Coach Maksim Shatskikh:

"All the teams in the group have the same goal – to reach the Champions League playoffs. We will strive to achieve our goal in the match against the champions of Turkmenistan. Arkadag is a new team on the Asian football scene, but they are a very close-knit and competitive team.

In preparation for the match, we analyzed the team's previous games, including their participation in the AFC Challenge League Cup, which the Turkmen team won. We understand that we will be facing players, many of whom are members of the Turkmenistan national team, and we take our opponents very seriously.

I hope the game will be intense and fast-paced. The team's emotional attitude is positive. I would like to point out that we came here for a positive result, and we will fight for it."

From this, it is clear that the battle for the first points in the group will be tough. We wish Arkadag football club good luck and success in their debut in the Asian Champions League.

The match will take place on September 17 at the Arkadag Stadium. Kickoff is at 6:45 PM.