Al-Ahsa to Host West Asian Football Federation U23 Championship
The 5th edition of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U23 Championship is set to kick off tomorrow, in Al-Ahsa City, Saudi Arabia. The West Asian Football Federation U23 Championship will run from March 20th to 26th. It will feature the participation of Jordan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea. Thailand, Australia, and Egypt, alongside the Saudi Arabian U21 national team, will take part in this tournament.
WAFF U23 Championship Draw: Exciting Matchups Revealed
The draw, held on March 3rd, resulted in four matches: the Saudi U21 national team will face the Jordanian Olympic team, while Egypt and the UAE Olympic teams will compete. Additionally, Iraq’s U20 team will play against Australia’s Olympic team, and South Korea will play against Thailand.
Four matches will be played tomorrow for the group stage, held in a knockout format. Saudi Arabia will face Jordan at Al-Fateh Club Stadium, which will also host a match between South Korea and Thailand. Meanwhile, Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium will host the matches between Australia and Iraq, and Egypt and the UAE.
Jordan’s Ambition: Determination to Compete for Title
Today, the coaches of participating teams held a press conference. Marcos Suarez, the technical director of the Saudi U21 national team, emphasized the importance of participating in the tournament to gain experience. He also noted that the match against Jordan will be tough since it is a good team.
Suarez added that the goal of the tournament is to gain experience from matches against teams from different continents. He also stressed that they will compete for the title.
Abdullah Abu Zema, the coach of the Jordanian team, stated that his ambition in the tournament is to strive for the title. He emphasized the difficulty of the match against the Saudi team, as it includes outstanding young players.
Abu Zama pointed out that the tournament is a strong opportunity for the Jordanian team to prepare strongly for the Asian Cup. He stated that the Jordanian team seeks to secure a place qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. He also highlighted that qualifying for the Asian Cup final has motivated the team to pursue further achievements in Jordanian football.
Thai Challenge: Emphasis on Cohesion & Experience
Isla Senaro, the head coach of the Thai national team, described the tournament as strong, as it includes strong teams in Asia and beyond. He emphasized that the biggest challenge for him is to achieve the required cohesion among players and gain experience.
South Korea’s Preparation: Full Force for Asian Cup
Meanwhile, Myung Jin-young, the head coach of the South Korean team, stated that (WAFF) U23 Championship is a good opportunity before participating in the Asian Cup. He emphasized that his team will participate in the tournament with full force to prepare the players for the continental tournament.
UAE’s Aspiration: Preparing Strong Team for (WAFF) U23 Championship
Marcelo Broli, the head coach of the UAE team, expressed his happiness at participating in (WAFF) U23 Championship. He pointed out that the tournament represents a special challenge for the group, especially since the match will be against a strong Egyptian team. However, he indicated that his ambition is to prepare a strong team. He said that this will not be achieved without winning the upcoming strong matches.
Rogério Micale Expresses His Optimism for Returning to KSA
On the other hand, Rogério Micale, the Brazilian head coach of the Egyptian Olympic team, expressed his happiness at returning to KSA. He also appreciated the special reception he received. Micale said that the tournament is an opportunity to prepare strongly for the Olympic Games. Moreover, he praised the stadiums and all aspects that will contribute to the success of (WAFF) U23 Championship and give the opportunity for players to give their best.
Australian Team’s View: Anticipating Tough Matches
Lastly, Tony Vidmar, the head coach of the Australian team, spoke about the tournament, describing it as strong as it includes distinguished teams. He confirmed the difficulty of the match against the Iraqi team.
Iraq’s Readiness: Determination & Appreciation
Meanwhile, Ehsan Tarli, the head coach of the Iraqi team, thanked the Saudi Football Federation for hosting the tournament. He affirmed the team’s readiness to compete for the title.
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