Qatar Eye U-23 Asian Cup Spot In Clash Against Bahrain

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will look to secure a spot in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup finals when they face Bahrain today at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in the final round of Group H qualifiers.

The Qatari side currently leads the group with 6 points, following dominant wins over Brunei (13-0) and India (2-1).

A third straight victory would guarantee them a place in the tournament finals for the sixth time in their history.

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Head coach Ilídio Vale is counting on the team's momentum, built on strong possession, tight defensive organisation and quick transitions.

Key players such as Jassim Al-Sharshani, Al-Hashemi Al-Hussein, and striker Mustafa Al-Sayed, who netted four goals against Brunei, have been instrumental in Qatar's campaign. Others like Noureddine Ibrahim, Marwan Baramel, and Abdulaziz Mohammed have also made notable contributions.

Bahrain, meanwhile, sit on three points after a 10-0 win over Brunei, having lost their opener to India 2-0. They must win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers feature 44 teams split into 11 groups. Group winners and the four best runners-up advance to the finals, along with host nation Saudi Arabia.

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