Liverpool icon Sadio Mane's Al-Nassr game postponed after Iran airstrikes
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Liverpool IconLiverpool FC NewsFeaturesSadio ManéSadio Mane's Al Nassr and several Saudi Pro League clubs have had their AFC Champions League games postponed following escalating Middle East tensions after airstrikesSadio Mane now plays for Al-Nassr(Image: Getty Images)Al-Nassr and several other teams have seen their games postponed after airstrikes in the region following the attack on Iran.Al-Nassr is the club of former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, who recently won his second Africa Cup of Nations title with Senegal. The United States and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran this weekend, days after the United States-Iranian negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme collapsed.
President Donald Trump insisted the strikes were "to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."During the operation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed by an airstrike on his office in Tehran, prompting Iran to launch missiles in retaliation.READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk closes gap on Premier League record amid John Terry debateREAD MORE: Liverpool handed Champions League boost after Arne Slot made feelings clearThe Middle East has descended into significant instability, with Iran targeting locations in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan.In response to the escalating conflict, the Asian Football Federation (AFC) confirmed that four Champions League fixtures scheduled for this week have been postponed.A statement read: "In light of the developing situation in the Middle East, the Asian Football Confederation has confirmed that the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 Round of 16 first-leg matches in the West Region, originally scheduled for March 2-3, 2026, will now be rescheduled.Smoke rises over Tehran as strikes hit the Iranian capital(Image: Getty Images)"Additionally, the AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League quarterfinal first-leg matches involving teams in the West Region, originally scheduled to be played between March 3 and 4, 2026, are also postponed until further notice."Matches involving clubs from the East Region across all of the AFC's club competitions will proceed as originally scheduled."The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans."Al-Nassr was set to take on the Emirati side Al Wasl on Wednesday.Other Saudi Arabian clubs, Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad, have likewise had their fixtures called off.It remains uncertain whether Mane's Al-Nassr teammate Cristiano Ronaldo would have featured in the match had it proceeded, following his injury-enforced substitution during Al Nassr's 3-1 victory over Al Fahya on Saturday.The 41-year-old seemed to sustain a muscle problem and was subsequently spotted with an ice pack applied to the back of his knee.Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus afterwards confirmed that Ronaldo will undergo urgent tests as the Portugal captain faces an anxious wait over his fitness ahead of the World Cup.Saudi Pro LeagueSadio ManéLiverpool FCCristiano Ronaldo