The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) congratulates Manila Digger FC for an undefeated AFC Challenge League group stage campaign in its debut season in international play, earning seven points off wins against Ezra and SP Falcons, and a draw against host PKR Svay Rieng.
With the result in Group D played in Phnom Penh, Manila Digger became the first club from the Philippines Football League (PFL) to have reached the knockout stage of an AFC club tournament–the first since Ceres-Negros’ feat in the 2019 AFC Asia Cup.
“Congratulations to Manila Digger. This milestone by one of our country’s newest pro clubs is a huge boost to the progress of professional football in the Philippines,” commented PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez.
“Manila Digger is a testament that PFL is a prime destination of global football talents who want to pursue a pro career alongside top Filipino standouts. That PFL is establishing itself as a melting pot of diverse international players will help provide a more competitive atmosphere for Filipino footballers that will enable their game to reach international quality,” Gutierrez explained.
Manila Digger’s frenetic pace, especially on running attacks, was in full display on its 3-1 opener win against Lao League 1 champion Ezra on October 26.
Ousmane Gai and Dilane Wamba Tafem scored early off skillful counterattacking runs in the 14th and 21st minute and after conceding a goal in the 29th minute, Baboucarr Touray sealed the win in the 56th minute by scoring off the rebound.
On October 29, Manila Digger blanked Mongolian Premier League champs SP Falcons, 2-0.
In another counterattack, Saikou Ceesay scored off Gai’s through pass, beating SP Falcons’s defensive line in the 39th minute, while on the flipside, Ceesay barreled past two defenders from the right flank to send the ball to Gai, who slid for the insurance goal in the 61st minute.
Gai finished the tournament for Manila Digger with a crucial brace in the 2-2 draw against 2024-25 AFC Challenge Cup runner-up and Cambodian Premier League PKR Svay Rieng on All Saints’ Day.
Gai drew first blood in the 39th minute, receveiving a through pass from Madou Manneh beating Faris Mammouti off a 1v1 run for the early lead.
Kwame Peprah equalized in the 47th minute off Manneh’s clearance error, but Gai regained the lead for Manila Digger in the 62nd minute, scoring off a nifty cutback by Touray in a clinical buildup inside the final third.
The more experienced squad, though, salvaged the point with Nhean Sosidan lobbing a curveball past Oman Njie’s reach in the 85th, to reach the quarterfinals as Group D topnotcher with a similar seven points and a +2 goal difference over Manila Digger.
As Group D runner-up, Manila Digger will face Group E top team Dewa United Banten of Indonesia’s Liga 1 in a home-and-away series in March 2026.
(Photo from the-afc.com)
