#AFCU23 champions Japan praised by AFC President

Sat, 04 May, 2024

#AFCU23 champions Japan praised by AFC President

Doha: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President, has congratulated Japan after the young Samurai Blue clinched their second AFC U23 Asian Cup™ title by defeating Uzbekistan 1-0 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Friday.

Both teams had already sealed berths at the Olympic Games by progressing to the Final, with Japan doing so for a 12th occasion while Uzbekistan created history by achieving their maiden qualification. The pair will be joined by Iraq, who are returning to the international arena for the first time in eight years after defeating Indonesia on Thursday. The latter are now scheduled to battle in the Playoff against Guinea on May 9 in Paris as they seek to end a 68-year absence. 

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Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title

Sun, 05 May, 2024

Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title

Doha: Substitute Fuki Yamada struck in the 91st minute and Leo Kokubo made a late penalty save to earn Japan a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan on Friday that secured Go Oiwa’s side the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ title at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Yamada, introduced from the bench with 18 minutes remaining, struck into the bottom corner of Abduvakhid Nematov’s goal before Kokubo kept out Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s spot-kick nine minutes later to earn Japan their second AFC U23 Asian Cup title.
 
The dramatic finish came at the end of a tense encounter and it saw the Japanese win the title for the first time since 2016, when the Samurai Blue also lifted the trophy on Qatari soil.

Decisive Jasim sends Iraq to Paris

Fri, 03 May, 2024

Decisive Jasim sends Iraq to Paris

Doha: Eight years after their last appearance, Iraq are bound for the Olympic Games again after securing their sixth qualification on Thursday night.

Having stumbled at the semi-final stage three days ago, the West Asians grabbed their second chance by overcoming Indonesia 2-1 in extra time of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ third-place playoff to take the final automatic qualifying slot to Paris 2024.
 
Ali Jasim sparked wild celebrations at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium with a clinical finish in the 96th minute to complete Iraq’s comeback and break Indonesia’s hearts in front of a partisan crowd with the West Asians joining Japan and Uzbekistan at the Olympics.

Indonesia's Shin shifts focus to Guinea playoff

Fri, 03 May, 2024

Indonesia's Shin shifts focus to Guinea playoff

Doha: Indonesia head coach Shin Tae-yong knows he faces a race against time to prepare his exhausted players for their Olympic Games showdown against Guinea next Thursday after slipping to a 2-1 loss to Iraq in the third place playoff at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™.

Shin’s side lost in extra-time despite taking the lead through Ivar Jenner after goals from Zaid Tehseen and Ali Jasim earned the Iraqis the last of Asia’s three guaranteed berths at the Games in Paris.
 
The Indonesians can still qualify for the Olympics, however, with victory over the African side in Paris, with Shin aware it will take a major effort to revitalise his players over the coming week.

Fujita named MVP

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Fujita named MVP

Doha: Captain Joel Chima Fujita was named the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Most Valuable Player following Japan's 1-0 defeat of Uzbekistan in the final on Friday.

Fujita, 22, played a pivotal role as Japan became the first team to lift the coveted title a second time.

Nematov wins Best Goalkeeper award

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Nematov wins Best Goalkeeper award

Doha: Uzbekistan's Abduvakhid Nematov was named as the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Best Goalkeeper after a sterling campaign for the Central Asian side.

The 23-year-old custodian kept a clean sheet in four of the five matches he appeared in but suffered heartbreak in the final as Uzbekistan were beaten 1-0 by Japan on Friday. 

Iraq's Jasim takes Yili Top Scorer award

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Iraq's Jasim takes Yili Top Scorer award

Doha: Midfielder Ali Jasim won the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Yili Top Scorer award on Friday.

Jasim, 20, scored four goals and made two assists as Iraq qualified for the Paris Olympics.

All my players deserve to go to the Olympics, says Iraq's Shenaishil

Fri, 03 May, 2024

All my players deserve to go to the Olympics, says Iraq's Shenaishil

Doha: Head coach Radhi Shenaishil will be in no hurry to cast aside the players who booked Iraq’s ticket for the Olympic Games should he remain in charge to take the team to Paris, hailing them as heroes after their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ third place playoff win over Indonesia on Thursday.

Goals from Zaid Tahseen and Ali Jasim at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium earned the Iraqis a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Southeast Asians, who had taken the lead through Ivar Jenner before Iraq’s extra-time success sealed their passage to Paris.
 
The Iraqis will be able to select three over-age players as well as completely reconfigure their squad for the Olympic Games in July and August, but Shenaishil was in no hurry to discuss discarding those who prevailed in Qatar in a gruelling three-week campaign.

Jasim: I love playing for Iraq

Fri, 03 May, 2024

Jasim: I love playing for Iraq

Doha: First, he fired them to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023. Then on Thursday, Ali Jasim emerged as the hero once again for Iraq by grabbing the winning goal against Indonesia to send them to the Olympic Games.

The 20-year-old struck in the sixth minute of extra time to seal a 2-1 win in the third-place playoff of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™, which secured the third and final automatic qualifying slot to Paris and a sixth appearance for the West Asians.