Jordan plays AFC U-23 Championship Group B qualifiers

AMMAN — Jordan’s U-23 football squad plays Pakistan on Saturday in their first match in Group B qualifiers for the 2016 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in Qatar.

Jordan will also play Kyrgyzstan on May 18 and Kuwait on May 20, after Turkmenistan pulled out forcing the organisers to change the schedule for the third time — now to be held at Al Qattara Stadium in Al Ain, the UAE, from May 16-24.

The winners of Groups A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J have been determined and along with the winners of Group B and five best second-placed teams from all groups will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship January 12-30, 2016, with the 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“We have not regrouped for over a month and our task has been made difficult and we are not in ideal preparation mode,” head coach Jamal Abu Abed underlined. “I’m relying on player experience and preparedness and will strive to qualify,” he concluded.

Jordan Football Association (JFA) Secretary General Fadi Zureiqat acknowledged the tough task. ‘’We are aware of circumstances and hope the team will overcome the obstacles and postponements, and advance in the competition.’’

The local agenda’s League has just ended and teams will play the upcoming Jordan Cup without U-23 players. Jazira and Wihdat players were set to join the line-up Thursday after finishing AFC matches.

In preparation for the U-23 Group B qualifiers, Jordan earlier held two training camps, beating Bahrain 2-1 and Bseiteen Club 1-0. They also had a training camp in the UAE, where they lost to Iraq 2-1 after they beat North Korea 3-1 and drew 2-2.