U-16 team starts countdown to West Asian Championship

AMMAN — Jordan’s U-16 football team has started the final countdown to the 5th West Asian Championship kicking off in Amman on July 29 with Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Palestine and Jordan competing for the title.

The Kingdom’s team is undergoing a heavy training regimen although some technical issues seem to have made its task more difficult. Head coach Eric Deletang took time off this month with the championship now only two weeks away as coach Abdullah Qitati tried to best prepare the team’s fitness and competitive sides. 

“We hope the officials will succeed in securing serious friendlies as they are vital for our upcoming agenda,” Qitati was quoted as saying after the team only played two friendlies against Palestine, whom they beat 2-0 after losing the first match 3-2. 

Following the event, the U-16 team hopes finalising some friendlies against its Saudi Arabian and Syrian counterparts that will put finishing touches on preparations as it get set for Group B qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship where Jordan will play alongside Nepal, Oman and Kyrgyzstan from September 12-20 in Kyrgyzstan.

India will host the 2016 AFC U-16 championship with a total of 45 nations including the host participating in the qualifiers, and the draw seeding based on the rankings from the last edition in 2014 won by North Korea . The 45 nations were divided into two qualifying zones — West Zone with 24 teams and East Zone with 21 teams. Eleven group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals, with hosts India receiving an automatic qualification (total 16 teams). In case India finishes 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.

Jordan was eliminated from the 2014 AFC U-16 qualifiers held in Amman after finishing last in Group D. Jordan lost to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia 2-1, and drew 4-4 with Syria.