Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 official draw takes place in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday.
Besides the prestigious regional title, 15 of the 16 teams will also be vying for three berths to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with Japan having already qualified as hosts.
In Part One of our countdown to the draw, the-AFC.com takes a look at how Bahrain, DPR Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan navigated through qualifying last March.
Hosts Thailand, despite having gained an automatic slot, also competed.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/bahrainu23_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/dpr_koreau23_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/iraqu23.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/jordanu23.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/qataru23.html
www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/2018_final_vietnam_1-2_uzbekistan.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/thailandu23.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Former women's team national head coach Hao Wei has replaced Guus Hiddink at the helm of the China PR U-23 squad.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) said in a statement posted on its website that the change is to ensure the China PR U-23 squad are well prepared for the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020, which also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: The Qatar Football Association (QFA)’s Executive Committee has decided to appoint Felix Sanchez as the head coach of the Olympic national team.
The Spaniard replaces his compatriot Albert Fernandez, and will also remain at the helm of the senior national team, a position he has held since July 2017.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Defending champions Uzbekistan were among the 16 countries that booked their places in the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 after an intense qualifying round which ended on Tuesday.
The Central Asians topped Group F with a convincing 3-0 victory against India and drawing 0-0 with Tajikistan while the runners-up in the 2018 final Vietnam topped Group K, ahead of Thailand, who had already qualified as host of the competition.
And the 2016 champions Japan were undefeated in Group I where they recorded stunning victories over Macau (8-0), Timor Leste (6-0) and host Myanmar (7-0).
There is extra significance for the AFC U-23 Championships, which will take place from January 8 to 26, 2020, as the top three teams qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in July, although should Japan emerge as one of them, the fourth-placed side will advance.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: Substitute Andrey Sidorov struck in the final minute of extra-time to help Uzbekistan seal the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 title with a narrow 2-1 win over Vietnam on Saturday.
The striker was on hand to convert a Dostonbek Khamdamov corner with his first touch of the game, after a 1-1 draw had forced the game into an additional 30 minutes.
While Uzbekistan’s victory saw them add to the AFC U-16 Championship title they won in 2012, it also brought the curtain down on a remarkable Vietnam campaign, one which will live long in the memory of the Southeast Asian nation’s supporters.
In decidedly wintry conditions at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, it was Uzbekistan who controlled the early proceedings, and they duly took the lead on eight minutes when a poorly marked Rustamjon Ashurmatov headed home Khamdamov’s outswinging corner.
Uzbekistan continued to press after the breakthrough, as both a Javokhir Sidikov header and Khamdamov’s effort from 20 yards forced Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung into smart saves.
Despite struggling to fully impose themselves on the game, Vietnam briefly threatened to restore parity shortly after the half hour mark when Pham Xuan Manh’s excellent cross narrowly eluded the onrushing Phan Vanh Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai.
However, after seeing Azizjon Ganiev fire narrowly over, Vietnam drew level on the stroke of half-time. Nguyen Cong Phuong was brought down on the edge of the area, and from the resulting free-kick Quang Hai superbly curled the ball past the despairing dive of Botirali Ergashev to register his fifth goal of the tournament.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: Vietnam captain Luong Xuan Truong has praised his team for a well fought campaign and is proud of their achievement despite losing to Uzbekistan in the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 final on Saturday.
In a match between equals, Uzbekistan opened the scoring in the eighth minute but Nguyen Quang Hai’s 41st minute equaliser pushed the game into extra-time.
Vietnam, however, suffered heartbreak almost at the end as substitute Andrey Sidorov scored the winner for Uzbekistan in the final minute of extra-time to settle the outcome of a match played in wintry conditions.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: Odiljon Xamrobekov has revealed that he is grateful for the support given to his Uzbekistan side after being awarded the Most Valuable Player presented by TOYOTA following the Central Asian nation’s 2-1 win over Vietnam in Saturday’s AFC U23 Championship final.
The talented midfielder was an ever-present for Uzbekistan throughout the tournament, with his display in the final undoubtedly one of his best in China.
However, despite his glowing reviews and personal accolade, Xamrobekov was quick to dedicate his own award and the U23 title success to those who believed in both himself and his teammates the most.
“All the trophies that we have won today, they are for everyone, for all the delegation, all the staff, and for all those people who believed in us,” explained Uzbekistan’s number seven.
“After we lost the opening match (against Qatar), not many people thought we would succeed, but those closest to us definitely did.
"The success we had is not only mine, or the head coach’s, or the team’s, it is for everyone.”