| TALIA | AFC key defender, Daniel ... (5) |
| ESCAPOLOGIST | Key defender, one bound to provide entertainment (12) |
| CENTREFORWARD | Was a key defender in the middle rather bold? (6-7) |
| RILEY | AFC Wimbledon and 2023-24 Hibs defender (5,9) |
| SOLER | AFC Bournemouth and 2022-25 Lanus full-back (5,5) |
| JULIO | AFC Bournemouth and 2022-25 Lanus full-back (5,5) |
| KOREA | AFC nation that lost all three 2010 FIFA World Cup games (5,5) |
| JONES | Vinnie - - - - -, actor and former AFC Wimbledon midfielder (5) |
| ARENA | Crown Oil ___, the home of Rochdale AFC (5) |
| LASSO | Ted ___ (fictional AFC Richmond coach) (5) |
| ROKER | ..... Park, 1898-1997 Sunderland AFC home ground (5) |
| VETCH | ___ Field, former home of Swansea City AFC (5) |
| GAYLE | Marcus ..... , former Jamaica, Wimbledon and AFC Wimbledon footballer (5) |
| INDIA | AFC nation coached by Manolo Marquez from July (5) |
| SAUDI | AFC nation coached by Roberto Mancini since 2023 (5) |
| DEFOE | Jermain ....., 2004-17 England, 2017-20 AFC Bournemouth and 2020-22 Rangers striker (5) |
| ONEIL | 2000-07 Portsmouth midfielder; Wolves and 2022-23 AFC Bournemouth boss (4,5) |
| MYLES | Grenada, AFC Wimbledon and 2016-18 Falkirk winger (5,9) |
| QUINN | Niall ..... , 1986-2002 Republic of Ireland, 1983-90 Arsenal, 1990-96 Manchester City and 19962002 Sunderland AFC striker; chairman of The Black Cats from 2006-11 (5) |
| DANNY | 2015-20 England, 2009-11 AFC Bournemouth, 201115 Burnley and 2015-19 Liverpool forward signed by West Ham from Aston Villa in 2023 (5,4) |
