(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar Olympic football team head coach Felix Sanchez was confident of a positive outcome in the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers, which will kick from tomorrow in Doha. Hosts Qatar will play their Group C matches against includes Syria, India and Turkmenistan
Group winners will automatically qualify for next year's AFC U-23 Championship in China. The five best runners-up across all groups will also qualify for the finals. However, if China win their group or are among the best five runners-up, the sixth best runner-up will also qualify.
Qatar's coach Sanchez said team will play three consecutive matches in the qualifiers with little time between each match. He added that the Qatari team has underwent a long preparation period and was hopeful that the team would do well.
'I have a group of talented and experienced players, who have already played in such qualifiers. The goal is to qualify directly to the Asian Cup in China and to be among the top 16 teams to qualify for the finals. We will take a one match at a time, Sanchez said. The qualifiers will take place from July 19 to July 23 in Al Sadd club's Jassim bin Hamad stadium. Qatar's first match will be against Turkmenistan tomorrow at 8pm after the tournament's opening fixture between Syria and India at at 5pm. On Friday, Qatar will face India at 8pm, with the hosts playing their last match on Monday against Syria.
Qatar's Olympic team had recorded a big 3-0 victory against Bangladesh in their final friendly game. The team also played twice in friendlies against Singapore, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, in addition to playing against North Korea.
Qatar U-23 squad
Mohammed al-Bakri, Meshaal Eissa Barsham, Mohammed Said, Tamim al-Muhaiza, Bassam Hisham al-Rawi, Tariq Salman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Abdulrahman Anad, Salem al-Hajri, Ahmed Mouein, Adel Alawi, Omar Ahmed al-Emadi, Khalid Munir, Salah Alawi al-Yahri, Abdul Hamid Anad, Abdullah al-Ahraq, Assem Madbo, Sultan Al Buraik, Ahmed al-Saadi, Nasser Ibrahim al-Nasr, Al Moez Ali, Akram Afif, Meshaal al-Shemari.
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