Faisali play Syria’s Jeish at Abassiyeen Stadium at 7:00pm in Damascus on Tuesday in Stage 5 of the 2011 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

Despite the current unrest and security situation in the country, the Syrian Football Federation underlined they are ready to host the next stage of AFC matches in the Syrian capital.

Faisali beat Kuwait’s Nasr 1-0 to take the lead atop Group C ahead of the upcoming stage. Faisali rebounded early in the event after they lost 4-2 to Iraq’s Duhok, and beat Syria’s Jeish 2-0 and Kuwait’s Nasr 2-1.

Al Ghad daily quoted Faisali President Thamer Odwan as saying: “Faisali is looking to book the qualifying berth ahead of their final match on May 10’’.

Wihdat who have already secured qualification to the next round will play Iraq’s Talaba at King Abdullah Stadium in Quweismeh today at 7:00pm.

They top Group D after scoring four wins: 1-0 over Kuwait Club, 5-1 over Oman’s Suweiq and 3-1 and 1-0 over Iraq’s Talaba.

Wihdat coach Abdullah Abu Zame’h was quoted in Al Ghad daily as saying that the team might give players like Mahmoud Shilbayeh a day off especially since they had moved to the Round of 16.

Wihdat won three local titles this year: the Jordn Professional League, the Jordan Football Association Shield and the Cup Winners’ Cup, and will play the first leg of the 31st Jordan Cup semis against Kufrsoum this weekend. In the other semi Manshieh beat Arabi 1-0.

The 8th AFC Cup includes 32 teams taking part in eight groups with the top two in each group moving on to the Round of 16 starting May 24. Faisali will next host Duhok in Amman when Wihdat play Suweiq in Oman on May 10.

Referring to his team’s results in the league, in which they conceded their title to Wihdat, Al Rai daily quoted Faisali’s coach Rateb Awadat as saying: “It was important to move past the latest results and look for achievements on the Asian scene.’’

Jordanian teams dominated the AFC Cup, a second-tier Asian club competition, with Faisali winning titles in 2005 and 2006 and Shabab Urdun in 2007.