Turkmenistan hold Qatar in friendly

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Turkmenistan hold Qatar in friendly

Doha: Qatar's U23 side played out a 2-2 draw against Turkmenistan in a friendly at Al Arabi Stadium in Doha on Wednesday.

Turkmenistan took a 2-1 lead going into the break before Qatar recovered with a late goal to earn the draw.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/qatar_-_turkmenistan_4-_friendly.html

2018 Flashback: Stars emerge as Uzbeks triumph

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2018 Flashback: Stars emerge as Uzbeks triumph

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC U23 Championship headed east for the first time in early 2018 as China’s Jiangsu province hosted the third edition of the Continental showpiece and a tournament that saw the emergence of stars that would shine on Asia's biggest stage a year later. 

Almoez Ali and Nguyen Quang Hai were two names, in particular, that enjoyed superb campaigns for Qatar and Vietnam respectively, although it was the collective effort of Uzbekistan’s White Wolves that ultimately ruled supreme.

Elsewhere, hosts China disappointed while powerhouses Japan, Korea Republic and Iraq failed to live up to expectations in a tournament that once again served up many moments to remember.

Home comforts can prove the difference, insists Supachok

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Home comforts can prove the difference, insists Supachok

Bangkok: Experienced Buriram United attacker Supachok Sarachak is aiming to fire the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 hosts to new heights at January's Continental competition.

Thailand have appeared in two of three editions of the AFC U23 Championship but, unlike regional rivals Malaysia and Vietnam, they are yet to appear in the knockout stage, suffering group stage eliminations at Qatar 2016 and China PR 2018.

Now, with the tournament hosted on home soil, star forward Supachok believes that it could be Thailand's time to shine in the Continental competition.

Qualifying for Tokyo 2020 vital for Australia, says Arnold

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Qualifying for Tokyo 2020 vital for Australia, says Arnold

Sydney: Qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer is “crucial” for the further development of Australia’s footballing talent says head coach Graham Arnold as the countdown continues towards the 2020 AFC U23 Championship in Thailand next month.

Arnold, who coaches the U23 side as well as the senior side, has been charged with leading his nation’s attempt to qualify for the Olympic football tournament in Japan as the Australians seek to secure a spot at the Finals for the first time since 2008.

Korea Republic get set for Thailand 2020 challenge

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Korea Republic get set for Thailand 2020 challenge

Seoul: Korea Republic have announced a 22-man roster for the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020, leaving one spot open for the possibility of filling it with an European-based player.

In the running for the final spot are Lee Kang-in, who plays for Spanish club Valencia CF and midfielder Paik Seung-ho from German outfit SV Darmstadt 98.

Both Lee and Paik have played for the senior Korea Republic national team. Lee, 18, also starred for the U-20 national squad this year, leading Korea Republic to the final at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 and winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

VAR set for historic full debut at Thailand 2020

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

VAR set for historic full debut at Thailand 2020

Kuala Lumpur: Asian football will reach another historic milestone with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system making its full tournament debut at the upcoming AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020, which is scheduled to take place across three cities – Bangkok, Buriram and Songkhla – between January 8 to 26, 2020.

Having made its successful debut from the quarter-final stage of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 in January, the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 will be the first AFC competition to implement the VAR system in all 32 matches.

Kadhim targets title and ‘historic’ Olympic qualification

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kadhim targets title and ‘historic’ Olympic qualification

Baghdad: Iraq captain Ali Kadhim has set his sights on lifting the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 title and following in the footsteps of previous generations by qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer. 

The Lions of Mesopotamia have a proud record in the AFC U23 Championship, winning the inaugural edition – when it was the AFC U-22 Championship – in Oman before finishing third in Qatar two years later to book their ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

While they exited at the group stage in Brazil, the West Asians were unbeaten and secured an excellent scoreless draw with the hosts, who eventually won the competition.

Twelve years earlier in Athens, meanwhile, Iraq narrowly missed out on the bronze medal after finishing fourth following a closely fought 1-0 loss to Italy in the third place play-off.