Manila Digger F.C.

This article is about the men's football team. For the women's team, see Manila Digger F.C. (women).

Manila Digger
Full nameManila Digger Football Club
NicknameThe Diggers
Founded2018 (2018)
Head coachHaijun Li
LeaguePhilippines Football League
2024–25Philippines Football League, 2nd of 10
Websitemaniladiggerfc.com

Manila Digger Football Club is a Filipino professional football club based in Taguig, Manila which currently plays in the Philippines Football League. The club was founded in 2018.

History

Foundation and early years

Manila Digger's foundation can be traced back in 2018 by a community of Chinese migrants in Manila who were working and studying in the country.[1]

Manila Digger began their journey in professional football in the 2023 edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara.[2] They then entered the 2024 season of the Philippines Football League.[3]

Rise to prominence

2024–25 season

During the 2024–25 season, the Diggers fell one point away from eventual league champions Kaya–Iloilo, but nonetheless qualified for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off against Indonesian champions Persib Bandung. The club also participated in the Finals Series, beating One Taguig in the semi-final following a late goal from Ousman Gai in the 83rd minute winning 2-1. The club would eventually lose to Cebu 0-1 missing out on the ASEAN Club Championship.[4]

Continental debut

Joof
Sambou
Manneh
Touray
Wamba
The starting line-up for Digger against Persib in the AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-offs

On August 13, 2025, the Diggers made their continental debut against Persib Bandung in the AFC Champions League Two qualification play-off round where they would eventually lose 2-1, but Modou Joof made history becoming the first Digger player to score in a continental competition.[5]

Following AFC's continental competition format, the Diggers qualified in the AFC Challenge League as the losers of the qualification play-off in AFC Champions League Two. they were drawn into Group D alongside Ezra F.C., SP Falcons, and hosts Svay Rieng.[6]

On October 26, 2025, the club made history by winning their first AFC Challenge League match against Ezra F.C. 3-1, becoming the first Filipino side to win a match in the competition since Ceres in 2014. Ousman Gai and Wamba Tafem scored in the first half and Baboucarr Touray would follow up a third goal for the Diggers in the second half.[7]

They would win their second match against Mongolian side SP Falcons 2-0 a goal by Saikou Ceesay in the first half and then followed by a final goal by fellow Gambian compatriot Gai in the second half to finish off the game. The Diggers successfully qualified to the Knockout round and becoming the first Filipino side to qualify in a continental knockout round since Ceres back in 2019.[8][9][10]

The club finished runners up in Group D after drawing their match 2-2 against Svay Rieng.[11] Ousman Gai would score a brace in the match, but it was not enough to break through, as 2 goals would come from Svay Rieng in the second half. The club will face Group E winners Dewa United in the knockout stage of the tournament and will be hosting the first leg as runners-up of Group D.[12][13]

Crest and colors

2024 home kit

The club traditionally plays in yellow and red kits tracing from the club's Chinese roots.[1][14] The club's crest features a shield shape with yellow and red base colors and a monicker of the club's name is placed in the center.

Sponsors

Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Partner
2023–24 UCAN[14] OKFly1
2024–25 Zealand Metal1
OKFly2
2025– Zealand Metal1
Prime Rehabilitation,[15] Starbalm[16]2
Yison3
  • 1 Major shirt sponsor (Names located at the front of the shirt)
  • 2 Secondary sponsor (Names mostly located at the back of the shirt)
  • 3 Located on the sleeves

Players

As of 15 September 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  PHI Michael Asong
2 DF  PHI Johnmar Barsanilla
3 FW  CHN Shou Sha
5 DF  GAM Modou Joof
6 DF  GHA Daniel Ashley
7 MF  SWE Lars William Kvist
8 MF  NGA Ifeanyi Ugwu
9 FW  JPN Yuga Watanabe
10 FW  GAM Saikou Ceesay
11 FW  GAM Baboucarr Touray
12 MF  GAM Modou Manneh
14 MF  PHI Kenji Nishioka
15 MF  GAM Ousman Gai
16 GK  GAM Omar Njie
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF  PHI Jordan Jarvis
18 DF  PHI Darwin Regala
21 FW  CMR Dilane Wamba
22 DF  PHI Zachary Taningco
23 DF  GAM David Sambou
27 DF  PHI OJ Clarino
28 GK  PHI Nelson Gasic
29 MF  PHI Shirmar Felongco (Captain)
31 MF  PHI Christian Schaffner
44 MF  JPN Hayato Kame
77 FW  CHN Diao Su
98 FW  PHI Troy Limbo

List of coaches

Coach Years in charge
Lerche Njang 2023
Pong Liman 2023–24
Oriol Mohedano 2024
Juan Manuel Saez 2024–25
Kim Versales 2025
Haijun Li 2025–

Honors

League

Cup

Records

Season Division League Position Copa Paulino Alcantara
2023 Did not participate Group stage
2024 PFL 7th –
2024–25 2nd (League) –
2nd (Finals Series) –

Continental record

Competition Q Pld W D L GF GA GD W %
AFC Champions League Two 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 000.00
AFC Challenge League 1 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 066.67
Total 2 4 2 1 1 8 5 +3 050.00
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2025–26 AFC Champions League Two Qualifying play-offs Persib 1–2
AFC Challenge League Group stage Ezra 3–1 2nd
SP Falcons 2–0
Svay Rieng 2–2
Quarter finals Dewa United

Performance in AFC competitions

2025–26: TBD

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ABOUT US". Manila Digger FC.
  2. ^ "Kaya FC Iloilo heads 17-team field in Copa Paulino Alcantara". ABS-CBN News. July 15, 2023. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "15 clubs are G this PFL '24". Dugout Philippines. February 5, 2024. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "Cebu FC crowned PFL Finals Series champs, books spot in AFF Shopee Cup". Cebu Daily News. May 4, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  5. ^ "Persib Bandung Berhasil Tumbangkan Manila Digger 2-1" [Persib Bandung Successfully Beat Manila Digger 2-1] (in Indonesian). Tribungroup.net. August 14, 2025.
  6. ^ "Group Stage showdowns decided". the-afc.com. August 28, 2025.
  7. ^ "Group D: Manila Digger FC (PHI) 3-1 Ezra FC (LAO)". the-afc.com. October 26, 2025.
  8. ^ "Group D: SP Falcons FC (MNG) 0–2 Manila Digger FC (PHI)". the-afc.com. October 29, 2025.
  9. ^ Terrado, Jonas (November 15, 2025). "Manila Digger through to AFC Challenge League quarterfinals". inquirer.net.
  10. ^ "AFC Challenge League Newcomer Manila Digger impresses in Groups Stage, Marches to QF". Philippine Football Federation.
  11. ^ "Group D: Manila Digger FC (PHI) 2–2 Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)". the-afc.com. November 1, 2025.
  12. ^ "AFC Challenge League: Juara Grup, Dewa United Perempat final" [AFC Challenge League: Group winners Dewa United advance to Quarterfinals]. CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  13. ^ "Manila Digger reaches AFC Challenge League quarterfinals". Daily Guardian. November 5, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Manila Digger FC Kit History". footballkitarchive.com.
  15. ^ "Sandbox Clinic PRIME (PRIME) is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Manila Digger Football Club (MDFC) to become its official recovery and rehabilitation facility". Sandbox Rehabilitation (PRIME) on facebook. April 21, 2025.
  16. ^ "Manila Digger FC is honored to have Starbalm as our official sport care partner". Manila Digger FC on facebook. September 18, 2025.
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