CEBU FC will be playing in Group F of the AFC Cup 2023/24 following the official draw on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
After finishing second in the 2023 Philippines Football League (PFL) season, Cebu FC earned a spot in the AFC Cup along with third place Stallion Laguna FC.
Cebu FC is grouped with Australia’s Macarthur FC, Myanmar’s Shan United and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown FC in the Asean Zone.
Just in its third year as a pro club, Cebu FC has already made waves in the national scene, finishing second in the 2023 PFL season and fourth in the Copa Paulino Alcantara twice.
Cebu FC, owned by Turkish businessman Ugur Tasci, has already built a solid club that has some elite local players like Chima Uzoka, Nathaniel Villanueva, JB Borlongan and Daniel Gadia, to name a few. The club has also solidified its roster with young international talents like Arda Çinkir, Göktuğ Demiroğlu, Ken Murayama and Ryo Togashi.
Cebu FC is making its international debut under the helm of head coach Joshua Schirmir along with assistant coach Mustafa Al-Saffar.
Meanwhile, Stallion Laguna FC is in Group G with Malaysia’s Terengganu FC, Indonesia’s Bali United and Australia’s Central Coast Mariners.
The top teams of Group F, Group G and Group H along with the best second placer will move on to the Zonal Finals of the AFC Cup 2023/24 on May 5.
Cebu FC and Stallion Laguna FC are both currently competing in the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Cebu FC is facing Manila Digger FC on Aug. 27 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. / EKA