Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: The opening ceremony of the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 caught the imagination of fans across the Continent on Wednesday with organisers presenting breath-taking performances to welcome Asia’s top 16 sides just moments before the curtain raiser between the hosts, Thailand and Bahrain at the Rajamangala Stadium.
Widely regarded as the ultimate stage for Asia’s rising stars, the tournament kicked off in style as performers greeted the players and teams in the nine languages represented at the tournament with four giant fabric banners showcasing the warmth and hospitality of the host nation.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Mohammed Qasim struck with a long range beauty to cancel out Reno Piscopo's equally stunning free-kick as Iraq and Australia settled for a 1-1 draw in their opening AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 Group A match at the Thammasat Stadium on Wednesday.
Qasim had only been on the field eight minutes before earning Abdulghani Shahad’s side a point having seen Piscopo give the Olyroos the lead with a high quality strike into the top corner of Ali Khadim’s goal.
Piscopo, who had been a threat throughout his 64 minutes on the field, put Australia ahead just two minutes before he was replaced by Zachary Duncan when he arrowed his free-kick from 25 yards beyond the outstretched hands of Khadim.
That goal was no less than the Australians deserved after dominating the second half until that point, with Iraq having offered little after an even first half.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Felix Sanchez has stressed the Qatar side he has brought to the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 should not be compared to the squad he led to the semi-finals of the last edition two years ago as the clock ticks towards his team’s clash with Syria in their Group B opener on Thursday.
Qatar finished in third place at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China PR having missed out on a place at the Olympic Games two years earlier when they lost to Iraq in the third place play-off.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Saudi Arabia coach Saad Al Shehri has warned Japan’s automatic qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will make Hajime Moriyasu’s side an even more dangerous opponent when the two sides face off in their AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 Group B opener on Thursday.
The Japanese have already secured their spot at the Olympic Games in the summer as hosts, leaving coach Moriyasu to concentrate on guiding his team to a title the nation won when the tournament was played in Qatar in 2016.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Songkhla: Korea Republic are primed and ready to perform in their AFC U23 Championship Group C opener against China PR, according to head coach Kim Hak-bum.
Korea Republic have never missed the semi-finals of the competition and, having appeared in every Olympic Games football tournament since 1984, hold high hopes of delivering another strong performance in Thailand.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Songkhla: The time is right to end Islamic Republic of Iran’s four-decade absence from the Olympic Games, according to head coach Hamid Estili, ahead of his side’s opening AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 match against Uzbekistan on Thursday.
Not since 1976 has Iran been represented in the Olympic football tournament, but a new generation of talented youngsters are hopeful of ending the drought as one of the three Asian sides to join Japan at Tokyo 2020.
While Estili acknowledged Team Melli Omid’s struggles in years gone by at this age level, he believes the stars are aligning for his well-prepared squad, who will begin their campaign against the competition’s defending champions at Tinsulanon Stadium.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: As the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 reaches its long-awaited opening with two crucial matches in Bangkok, join the-AFC.com as we crunch the competition’s numbers.
The tournament has proven to be a launchpad for Asia's best and fresh young talent will be in abundance in Bangkok, Buriram and Songkhla over the next three weeks.