U-19 football team hosts Lebanon

AMMAN — The Kingdom’s U-19 football team hosts Lebanon on Thursday in the final friendly in Amman as they start the countdown to the Asian Football Association (AFC) U-19 qualifiers kicking off in October. 

Coach Islam Diyabat has announced the near final line-up that will play Lebanon tonight before heading to the UAE to play its national team on September 18 and 20. 

The squad had a training camp in Turkey last month as Jordan prepares to play Group E alongside hosts Iran, Kuwait and Nepal with group winners and best second-placed teams booking a slot to the AFC U-19 Championship set for Bahrain in 2016.  

The top four teams from the U-19 Championship advance to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The U-19 team regrouped earlier this year and have played a series of local friendlies. It lost to Shabab Urdun 4-2, Wihdat 2-1, That Ras 3-2, Sarih 3-0, the Royal guards 3-1. It beat Yarmouk, Balama and Sahab 2-1, Salt 3-0 and tied Faisali 1-1.

“We will aim to qualify and will spare no effort to reach that goal,” Diyabat noted. “Friendlies in the past month helped boost our competitive edge, and has given the squad much needed confidence,” he added.