(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Iraq midfielders Mustafa Nadhim and Humam Tareq were brimming with joy after qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by finishing third at the AFC U-23 Championship on Friday.
Having memorably finished fourth at the 2004 Olympics in Greece, the Iraqis missed the next two editions and Nadhim was delighted they were able to get the job done this time around. "Thank God, we could pull it off," said the 22-year-old "It's a great feeling that we're going to Rio. It's true that we conceded an early goal from a mistake but it's normal € no game is without mistakes. But we moved on and decided to fight [and] that was important. The Al Quwa Al Jawiya man also hailed the influence of coach Abdulghani Shahad, revealing: "The coach spoke to us during halftime and his message was clear. He asked us to play with real heart and spirit.
"He said winning or losing didn't matter, but giving our best was the key. I kept reminding the players about it. We had faith in ourselves and it paid off in the end."
Meanwhile, talented winger Tareq credited the resilience his team displayed and hailed the triumph as an important moment for the people of Iraq. "Qatar had the home advantage but we never gave up," explained Tareq.
"When we won, I couldn't control my emotions. I dedicate our win to my family, friends and all who have been supporting the national team. It's a big moment for our country." Both Nadhim and Tareq were part of the Iraq side that were crowned champions of the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship back in 2013.
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