Iraq retain WAFF U-16 Championship title

Iraq effectively had the trophy in the bag going into the final round of matches in the five-team, round robin tournament, having defeated hosts Jordan (5-0), Saudi Arabia (2-0), and Palestine (3-0) although both the Saudis and the UAE still had a chance of joining the table toppers on nine points, albeit with a substantial goal differential to make up.

The statistical permutations were rendered a moot point however, as Iraq made it four-out-of-four with a last-gasp victory over the Emiratis, before the Saudis ended their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Jordan.

Ammar Al Lami put Iraq 1-0 up in the 29th minute only for Mohammad Mubarak to pull the UAE level just after the hour mark. However, tournament top scorer Al Shammrani, scorer of a hat-trick in the opening match, capped a fine individual campaign when he netted the winner, four minutes into added time at the end of the second half.

All five of the participating teams in the competition will now turn their attention to the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers, which take place in September.

West Asian champions Iraq are in Group C alongside hosts Qatar and the Central Asian duo of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan while Saudi Arabia and the UAE renew acquaintances in Group D in Dhaka, which also features Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Palestine host Group A where they have been pooled with Uzbekistan, Yemen, and the Maldives while Jordan travel to Bishkek to contest Group B with Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, and Oman.

Eleven group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals, with hosts India receiving an automatic qualification. Should India finish top of their qualifying group or among the four best second-placed teams, the next (5th) second best placed nation will qualify for the final competition.

Photo: WAFF