Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Baghdad: Younis Mahmoud will once again spearhead Iraq’s AFC Asian Cup challenge after the 31-year-old was named in head coach Radhi Shenaishil’s squad for January’s continental gathering in Australia.
The Iraqi talisman, who scored his country's winning goal in their 2007 Asian Cup title triumph against Saudi Arabia and has more than 130 international appearances to his name, will feature for the Lions of Mesopotamia despite not having been attached to a club since leaving Saudi giants Al Ahli in December last year.
Shenaishil will be hoping that Mahmoud can bring a degree of experience and maturity to a youthful squad that also includes talented Swindon Town midfielder Yaser Kasim, Colombus Crew forward Justin Meram and 18-year-old playmaker Humam Tariq.
Iraq will face tournament heavyweights Iran in Wollongong on January 4 in their final warm-up match ahead of their opening Group D game against Jordan on January 12.
They are then scheduled to play four-time winners Japan on January 16 and AFC Challenge Cup winners Palestine on January 20.
Jalal Hasssan (Arbil), Mohammed Hamed (Al Shurta), Ali Yasin (Naft Al Janoub), Ahmed Ibrahim (Ajman, UAE), Ali Bahjat (Al Shurta), Ali Faiz (Arbil), Salak Shaker (Al Shurta), Walid Salim (Al Shurta), Samih Saeed (Nadi Amana Baghdad), Ali Adnan (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Dhargham Ismail (Al Shurta), Ahmed Yasin (Orebro SK, Sweden), Amjad Kelaf (Al, Shurta), Ali Husni (Al Minaa),Humam Tariq (Al Dhafra, UAE), Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town, England), Saad Abdul Amir (Arbil) Mahdi Kamil (Al Shurta), Osama Rashid (Alphense Boys, Netherlands), Younis Mahmoud (Unattached), Alaa Abdul Zahra (Al Shurta), Justin Meram (Columbus Crew, USA), Marwan Hussein (Al Shurta)