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.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/afcu23_|_3rd_place_playoff_-_iraq_2_-_1_indonesia.html

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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.

Preview - Final: Japan v Uzbekistan

Fri, 03 May, 2024

Preview - Final: Japan v Uzbekistan

Doha: Uzbekistan head coach Timur Kapadze brushed aside the loss of Abdukodir Khusanov, Hojimat Erkinov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev from his squad for Friday’s AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ final with Japan at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, confident he has enough depth to compensate for their absence.

The trio rejoined their clubs earlier this week after Uzbekistan secured their first-ever qualification for the Olympic Games with their semi-final victory over Indonesia, but Kapadze believes his team can still succeed despite their departure.

Fujita: Japan ready for tough final

Thu, 02 May, 2024

Fujita: Japan ready for tough final

Doha: Having suffered defeat in both their previous encounters with Uzbekistan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup™, Japan captain Joel Chima Fujita is hoping that it will be third time lucky for them on Friday.

Uzbekistan ran out 4-0 winners in the quarter-finals in 2018 and recorded a 2-0 semi-final triumph in 2022, with both teams to reprise rivalries in the Qatar 2024 final where victory for either side will make them the first two-time champions. 

Uzbekistan’s Jaloliddinov confident of good showing

Thu, 02 May, 2024

Uzbekistan’s Jaloliddinov confident of good showing

Doha: Two years ago at the AFC U23 Asian Cup™, Uzbekistan defeated Japan en route to making the final before eventually finishing as the runners-up to Saudi Arabia. 

On Friday, the Central Asians will have the opportunity to make amends when they contest their third final - only Saudi Arabia have reached as many - against Japan, whom they also beat in their 2018-winning campaign.

#AFCCup: Al Ahed FC - Road to the Final

Thu, 02 May, 2024

#AFCCup: Al Ahed FC - Road to the Final

Muscat: Twenty years since it started, the AFC Cup™ reaches its end point with Lebanon’s Al Ahed competing against Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in the final of the 2023/24 edition, the last before it makes way for the AFC's new club competitions structure.

While this is the maiden appearance for the Australian side, very few teams have been as ever-present as Al Ahed, who appeared in the AFC Cup 12 times. The current iteration of the team had a rollercoaster ride of a season, taking them to the final. The-AFC.com relives the journey of the team from Beirut to Sunday’s final.

#AFCCup: Central Coast Mariners - Road to the Final

Wed, 01 May, 2024

#AFCCup: Central Coast Mariners - Road to the Final

Muscat: After becoming the first-ever club from Australia to reach the final of the AFC Cup™, Central Coast Mariners will aim to go one step further when they take on Lebanon’s Al Ahed FC in an eagerly-awaited title clash on Sunday.

With a new three-tier system featuring the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Champions League 2 and the AFC Challenge League to be introduced from the 2024/25 season, both Al Ahed and Central Coast will be eager to bring the curtains down on the two-decade-old competition by emerging as its last-ever champion.
 
With excitement growing ahead of the title showdown at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, join the-AFC.com as we look back at Central Coast’s memorable journey to the AFC Cup 2023/24 final.

Six teams to contest Qualifiers Playoff for Saudi Arabia 2027

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Six teams to contest Qualifiers Playoff for Saudi Arabia 2027

Kuala Lumpur: Three prized slots in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers Final Round are on offer via Playoffs with the official draw on May 9, 2024, set to chart the path forward for six teams.

Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Macau, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste will be paired in a matchup of the six lowest-ranked losing teams from the FIFA World Cup 2026 – Preliminary Competition and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 with home and away encounters scheduled for September 5 (first leg) and September 10 (second leg).