Road to Final - Japan

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Road to Final - Japan

Doha: Japan will face Uzbekistan in the final of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ final aiming to add to the title they won in Doha in 2016.

Go Oiwa's side endured a challenging route to the final, having been drawn in a tough Group B.
 
The-AFC.com retraces the East Asian's side journey to Friday's decider. 

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/afcu23_|_group_b__japan_1_-_0_china_pr.html

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/afcu23_|_group_b__united_arab_emirates_0_-_2_japan.html

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/afcu23_|_group_b__japan_0_-_1_korea_republic.html

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/afcu23_|_qf1__qatar_2_-_4_japan.html

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/video/afcu23_|_s-final__japan_2_-_0_iraq.html

Preview - 3rd Place Playoff: Iraq v Indonesia

Thu, 02 May, 2024

Preview - 3rd Place Playoff: Iraq v Indonesia

Doha: The third and final automatic berth at the Paris Olympics from the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ will be at stake on Thursday when Iraq and Indonesia face off in the third place playoff.

Iraq are seeking a sixth appearance and a first since 2016, while Indonesia’s sole involvement to date came in 1956 before the Olympics’ men’s football tournament became a U23 affair. The losing team will still have one last shot at making it, via a playoff against Guinea on May 9 in Paris.
 
However, that is not on either side’s minds for now as they look to pick themselves up from stumbling at the semi-finals to get ready for their second chance at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.

Rio focused on taking Indonesia to Paris

Wed, 01 May, 2024

Rio focused on taking Indonesia to Paris

Doha: Rio Fahmy will look to repay the faith shown in him by head coach Shin Tae-yong and help steer Indonesia to their first Olympic Games qualification in 68 years when he faces Iraq in the third place playoff at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ on Thursday.

The winners will join Japan and Uzbekistan as Asia’s three guaranteed qualifiers for the Games in Paris with the defeated nation moving into a one-off playoff against Guinea on May 9, and Fahmy is targeting a successful outing at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium

Mohammed determined to lead Iraq to Olympics

Wed, 01 May, 2024

Mohammed determined to lead Iraq to Olympics

Doha: Iraq captain Muntadher Mohammed returns from suspension to lead his team against Indonesia in the third place playoff at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ determined to make amends for the semi-final loss against Japan and secure a place at the Olympic Games.

Mohammed served a one-match suspension after picking up a second yellow card of the tournament in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Vietnam, but will be available to head coach Radhi Shenaishil for Thursday’s clash against Shin Tae-yong’s side.

The Deciders: Facts & Figures

Wed, 01 May, 2024

The Deciders: Facts & Figures

Doha: The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ is reaching its climax with Japan to play Uzbekistan in the final on Friday.

Iraq and Indonesia, meanwhile, will square off in the playoff for third place on Thursday.
 
The-AFC.com takes a look at some key facts and figures ahead of the two matches with both having so much at stake.

Paris beckons but Kapadze expects Uzbekistan to deliver silverware first

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Paris beckons but Kapadze expects Uzbekistan to deliver silverware first

Doha: As delighted as Timur Kapadze was that his side had achieved their target of qualifying for the Olympic Games for the time, the head coach stressed that he would only truly be satisfied if Uzbekistan lift the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ trophy a second time.

The Central Asian side were simply too strong for Indonesia in their Qatar 2024 semi-final on Monday, with Khusain Norchaev giving them the lead and Pratama Arhan turning the ball into his own net to send Uzbekistan into their third final in four editions.
 
Up next are Japan, with both teams bidding to become the first side to lift the coveted trophy for a second time. 

Oiwa: Japan yet to complete mission

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Oiwa: Japan yet to complete mission

Doha: Go Oiwa refused to rest on his laurels after steering his Japan team into the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ final on Monday as a 2-0 win over Iraq also guaranteed his nation an eighth consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games.

Japan joined Uzbekistan in securing one of the three spots at the Paris Games with a victory that was delivered by first half goals from Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki, and Oiwa stressed he has already shifted his focus to Friday’s decider against Timur Kapadze’s team.

Our plan didn't work, admits Iraq's Shenaishil

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Our plan didn't work, admits Iraq's Shenaishil

Doha: Iraq head coach Radhi Shenaishil admitted his plan to contain Japan in the opening 45 minutes of their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ semi-final backfired as the West Asian side slipped to a 2-0 loss that leaves their hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games resting on Thursday’s playoff with Indonesia.

Goals from Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki took the Japanese into their second AFC U23 Asian Cup final and guaranteed Go Oiwa’s team a place at the Olympic Games in Paris while Iraq will next take on Shin Tae-yong’s team in three days’ time.

Shin rallies Indonesia after semi-final heartbreak

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Shin rallies Indonesia after semi-final heartbreak

Doha: Shin Tae-yong did not deny the fact that pressure may have gotten to his players in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ semi-final defeat to Uzbekistan on Monday.

The Southeast Asian side hardly got going at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium as a dominant Uzbekistan side cruised to a 2-0 win, having also hit the woodwork four times. 

First half goals power Japan into final

Wed, 01 May, 2024

First half goals power Japan into final

Doha: Japan will meet Uzbekistan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ final after first half goals from Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki earned Go Oiwa’s side a 2-0 win over Iraq at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Monday that also sealed the nation’s spot at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Hosoya put the 2016 champions in front in the 28th minute and Araki doubled the lead 14 minutes later during a commanding performance by Oiwa’s side, with captain Joel Fujita at the heart of a dominant display.
 
The Japanese will take on Timur Kapadze’s Uzbekistan on Friday to decide this year’s champions while Iraq will meet Indonesia 24 hours earlier to determine who will secure Asia’s third guaranteed berth at the Olympics.

Buriev: Olympic qualification a huge achievement for Uzbekistan

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Buriev: Olympic qualification a huge achievement for Uzbekistan

Doha: History was created on Monday in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ as Uzbekistan sealed qualification to the Olympic Games for the first time after defeating Indonesia 2-0 in the semi-finals.

The victory ensured that Uzbekistan will make their debut in Paris later this year and progress was achieved in style as the 2018 champions picked up a fifth win in as many games without conceding a single goal.