Jordan qualifies to U-23 Asian Championship

AMMAN — Jordan qualified to 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar after they topped Group B qualifiers which ended in Al Ain, the UAE.

Jordan held Kuwait 3-3 in their last Group B qualifier and clinched the qualifying spot. They also beat Kyrgyzstan 4-0, after their opening 5-0 win over Pakistan. 

In other matches Pakistan beat Kyrgyzstan 3-1, 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 (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, Australia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and China) along with Group B champs Jordan as well five best second-placed teams from all groups will join hosts Qatar at the event January 12-30, 2016, with the 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Coach Jamal Abu Abed and his team overcame adversity and the changes of schedule three times which observers fears would undermine team’s preparedness and competitive advantage. 

The U-23 team has been impressive over the past year when they beat South Korea to take the bronze in the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship (renamed the AFC U-23 Championship) as Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to take the title.

Last year, the same squad also represented Jordan at the Asian Games.