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#Asian Cup Qatar 2023 The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Tajikistan has impressed with their first ever appearance at an AFC Asian Cup. The Crowns qualified to the Round of 16 after finishing second in Group A, behind group leaders Qatar, and ahead of China and Lebanon. For Tajikistani players, the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 marks an important milestone for the sport's development in their country.
“Football is becoming the number one sport in Tajikistan. There is a lot of focus on the development of this sport in the country, including the construction of new stadiums,” said Rustam Yatimov, Tajikistan's goalkeeper.“This tournament is the most prestigious competition in Asia. It is an important milestone for us. We want to progress as far as possible and pave the way for a future generation of players.”
This is the first time that the AFC Asian Cup is being played on FIFA World Cup stadiums. Seven out of the nine stadiums being used during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 previously hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
For Manuchekhr Dzhalilov, a forward who plays his club football with Tajik side Istiklol, Qatar's state-of-the-art stadiums are a dream venue for any player:“Qatar's sporting infrastructure is very impressive. The atmosphere inside stadiums has been unbelievable. It is a dream for any player to play in Qatar's stadiums.”
Tajikistan has also enjoyed tremendous support from droves of supporters tuning in to watch their team make their AFC Asian Cup debut. Several have also made their way to stadiums to show their support.
“We are beyond excited that our team has made it to the tournament. Tajikistan did not qualify for last year's World Cup, but finally we are here in the Asian Cup. We are happy to be here and to cheer for our team,” said Zokir Abdurakhmanov, a teacher residing in Qatar.
For Zoir Dzhuraboyev, support from fans has been a crucial factor to their success:“Our fans are important to us. We are not alone in this championship as we have got our fans by our side. There's also lot of support from fans back home, who are not able to be physically present here. We are going to try play our best to make these wonderful fans happy.”
Tajikstan will be facing UAE on Sunday, January 28, 2024, 7pm kick-off at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in the Round of 16.
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