AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024

Long-range screamers, magnificent solo efforts, stunning free-kicks and superb team moves, the sixth edition of one the continent’s premier youth competitions saw goals from all angles and distances to delight lovers of Asian football across the globe.

After Japan’s win over Uzbekistan in the final, the-AFC.com now looks back on the competition and asks you, the fans, to determine the standout NEOM Future Star of the Tournament.

We’ve selected six nominees who delivered eye-catching performances throughout the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024, so review the list and don’t forget to vote for your favourite NEOM Future Star at the bottom of the article.

It was a fitting finale to a tournament that saw thrills and spills in equal measure so join the-AFC.com as we take a look at some key takeaways from the tournament.

Kokubo threw himself to his right to keep out Rakhmonaliev’s strike after Hiroki Sekine had been judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area deep into added time with the Japanese leading through Fuki Yamada’s fine finish.

Fuki Yamada’s sole goal in the first minute of added time, coupled with a Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s missed penalty, ended the 2018 winners’ hopes of adding a second title, which were high given their perfect record of five wins from five games in the tournament without conceding a single goal heading into this match.

It was also a second loss in as many finals for Timur Kapadze, who was also at the helm when they lost to Saudi Arabia at the 2022 edition, and the 42-year-old head coach admitted that the failure hurt.

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

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

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.

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.

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.