Jordan takes on Kuwait

AMMAN — Jordan’s U-23 football squad plays Kuwait on Wednesday in their last Group B qualifier for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar.

The Kingdom tops the group and has nearly secured qualification after they beat Kyrgyzstan 4-0 on Monday. Jordan had opened the competition currently under way in Al Ain, the UAE, with a 5-0 win over Pakistan. 

In other matches so far, Kuwait beat Pakistan 2-0 and Kyrgyzstan held Kuwait 1-1. Turkmenistan withdrew from the qualifiers forcing the organisers to change the schedule for a third time.

The winners of Groups A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J have been determined (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, Australia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and China) and along with the winners of Group B and five best second-placed teams from all groups will join the hosts at the
January 12-30 event, with the 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Coach Jamal Abu Abed had earlier stressed that the changes of schedule thrice had underlined the team’s preparedness, but noted he was “relying on player experience and preparedness”.

The U-23 team has so far always impressed observers and managed to overcome adversity. Last year, Jordan took bronze in the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship (renamed the AFC U-23 Championship) after beating South Korea as Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to take the title.

The same squad also represented Jordan at the Asian Games where they made it to the quarter-finals 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.