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

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

Pos	Team v t e	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

All match times are local, AST (UTC+3).

Thailand vs Kyrgyzstan

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.

16 January 2024 (2024-01-16)

17:30

Thailand	2–0	Kyrgyzstan
Supachai 26', 48'	Report

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Attendance: 4,530

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)

Thailand

Kyrgyzstan

GK 23 Patiwat Khammai RB 17 Pansa Hemviboon CB 12 Nicholas Mickelson  81' CB 4 Elias Dolah LB 3 Theerathon Bunmathan (c)  8' CM 25 Peeradon Chamratsamee  46' CM 18 Weerathep Pomphan RW 7 Supachok Sarachat  88' AM 9 Supachai Chaided  78' LW 11 Bordin Phala  69' CF 10 Suphanat Mueanta  69' 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

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.

16 January 2024 (2024-01-16)

20:30

Saudi Arabia	2–1	Oman
Ghareeb 78' Al-Bulaihi 90+6'	Report	Al-Yahyaei 14' (pen.)

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

Attendance: 41,987

Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)

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

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).

21 January 2024 (2024-01-21)

17:30

Oman	0–0	Thailand
	Report

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Attendance: 6,340

Referee: Mooud Bonyadifard (Iran)

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 4 Elias Dolah CB 17 Pansa Hemviboon LB 3 Theerathon Bunmathan (c)  57' CM 25 Peeradon Chamratsamee  90' CM 18 Weerathep Pomphan  86' 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

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.

21 January 2024 (2024-01-21)

20:30

Kyrgyzstan	0–2	Saudi Arabia
	Report	Kanno 35' Al-Ghamdi 84'

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

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

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.

25 January 2024 (2024-01-25)

18:00

Saudi Arabia	0–0	Thailand
	Report

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

Attendance: 38,773

Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)

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 26 Suphan Thongsong CB 21 Suphanan Bureerat CB 16 Jakkapan Praisuwan LB 2 Santiphap Channgom CM 6 Sarach Yooyen (c) CM 24 Worachit Kanitsribampen  74' RW 13 Jaroensak Wonggorn  88' AM 5 Kritsada Kaman  65' 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

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.

25 January 2024 (2024-01-25)

18:00

Kyrgyzstan	1–1	Oman
Kojo 80'	Report	Al-Ghassani 8'

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Attendance: 6,231

Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)

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

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

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.

External links

• Official website