Kuala Lumpur: Reigning AFC U-22 Championship champions Iraq have been drawn into Group A of the qualifiers for the competition’s latest and renamed edition, the AFC U-23 Championship 2016.
The draw held at the AFC House in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur on Thursday saw the Iraqis grouped along with hosts of the 2013 inaugural edition Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon and the Maldives.
Jordan, who finished third in 2013, were placed in Group B alongside Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, group hosts Pakistan and Turkmenistan, while runners-up Saudi Arabia will battle it out in Group C against host nation Iran, Nepal, Palestine and debutants Afghanistan.
Group D will be a hotbed of action with the UAE, Yemen, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka drawn together, while Group E comprises Syria, Uzbekistan, India and hosts Bangladesh.
In Group F, Australia, Myanmar and Hong Kong will face group hosts Chinese Taipei to fight for a place in the finals, while DPR Korea, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines will be in action in Group G.
The 2013 edition’s fourth-placed side Korea Republic have been pitted against hosts Indonesia, Timor-Leste and debutants Brunei Darussalam in Group H, while Group I sees Japan, hosts Malaysia, Vietnam and Macau vying for supremacy.
China will play hosts to Group J which is completed by Laos, Singapore and first timers Mongolia.
Ten group winners and five best-second placed teams from all groups (total 15 teams) will qualify for the final competition where hosts Qatar await.
The qualifiers will be held from March 23 to 31, 2015 while the tournament proper will be played in January 2016.
The AFC U-23 Championship 2016 will serve as the Olympics qualifiers in every alternate edition. The top three teams from the 2016 edition will represent Asia at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Groups for the AFC U-23 Championship 2016 Qualifiers
Group A
Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Maldives
Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Maldives
Group B
Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan
Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan
Group C
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nepal, Palestine, Afghanistan.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nepal, Palestine, Afghanistan.
Group D
UAE, Yemen, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka
UAE, Yemen, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka
Group E
Syria, Uzbekistan, India Bangladesh
Syria, Uzbekistan, India Bangladesh
Group F
Australia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei
Australia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei
Group G
DPR Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines
DPR Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines
Group H
Korea Republic, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Brunei Darussalam
Korea Republic, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Brunei Darussalam
Group I
Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Macau
Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Macau
Group J
China, Laos, Singapore, Mongolia
China, Laos, Singapore, Mongolia
afc.com
in this group 1 North Korea,2 Thailand,3 Philippines,
ReplyDeleteWho are the players representing the Philippines? Who is coaching?
ReplyDeleteOne week lng sa isang taon nagkikita ang mga players at coaching staff sa PFF. That is the sad reality of our Youth Teams puro Men's lng pinaghahandaan ng PFF kawawa yung mga bata.
DeleteHeard U22 team was in Japan from November 4-19,2014 for a training camp. Coached by Australian Jim Fraser, and 2 Filipino coaches Marcaida and Pinero.
ReplyDeleteyung lng ang training camp nila this year dahil libre yun from Genesys and JFA pero iba na namang batch ito na players compared last year at kung meron mang natira ay hindi umabot ng sampu ito sa batch last year. Ganyan ka kitid ang utak ng PFF mag plano sa mga Youth teams natin pampogi lng.
Deletesino ka pla? para naman maniwala mga tao, at humanga sa kagalingan mo, dami mo kc alam, mukhang may kinalaman ka rin sa loob.
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