U-23 football team prepares for Asian Championship and U-16 hosts Palestine

AMMAN — Jordan will soon start the training agenda and countdown for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship to be held in Qatar from January 12 to 30.

The Asian Football Association (AFC) announced the qualifiers to the championship which include Group B champs Jordan in addition to winners of Groups A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, Australia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and China) as well as five best second-placed teams from all groups — Thailand, Iran, Vietnam, Yemen and Uzbekistan — who will join host Qatar. The 16-team competition also serves as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Jordan recently topped Group B qualifiers in Amman as coach Jamal Abu Abed and his team overcame adversity and the change of schedule three times which observers feared would undermine the team’s preparedness and competitive advantage. Jordan held Kuwait 3-3, beat Kyrgyzstan 4-0 and Pakistan 5-0 to advance. 

Over the past year, the U-23 team has impressed observers when they beat South Korea to take the bronze at the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship (renamed the AFC U23 Championship) as Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to take the title.

Last year, the same squad also represented Jordan at the Asian Games where they made it to the quarterfinals despite a bumpy preparation period amid the busy agenda of the national team as well as local clubs. Jordan beat the UAE 1-0, India 2-0 and Kyrgyzstan 2-0 in extra time before losing 2-0 to Thailand in the quarters.

U-16 prepare

Meanwhile, the U-16 team will host Palestine in two matches this week, as both teams prepare for the West Asian Championship in Amman starting July 29. Jordan ‘s agenda also includes Group B qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship from September 12 -20 alongside Nepal, Oman and Kyrgyzstan.

Head coach Éric Delétang, of France, underlined the importance of the two friendlies which will give the U-16 coaching staff the chance to assess the team ahead of the West Asian Championship.

“The friendlies and West Asian matches are a great chance to prepare for the Asian qualifiers. We have to be in top form and our plan is working accordingly,’’ Delétang added.

Jordan was eliminated from the 2014 AFC U-16 qualifiers held in Amman after finishing last in Group D.