U-16 team plays UAE at West Asian championship Friday

AMMAN — The U-16 national football team plays the UAE as Palestine plays Saudi Arabia on Friday at the 5th West Asian Championship currently under way in Amman with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Palestine and Jordan competing.

Jordan went down 5-0 to Iraq in its opening match as UAE beat Palestine 3-2 on the first day. 

The Kingdom’s team got off to a bitter start confirming apprehensions of the team’s officials who underlined that “more friendlies are vital for the upcoming agenda” as Jordan prepares following the West Asia event to host Saudi and Syrian counterparts ahead of Group B qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship where Jordan will play alongside Nepal, Oman and Kyrgyzstan from September 12 -20 in Kyrgyzstan.

The squad only played four friendlies ahead of the West Asian competiton losing to the UAE 3-2 and 4-2 and two matches against Palestine whom they beat 2-0 after losing the first match 3-2.

India will host the 2016 AFC U-16 championship with a total of 45 nations including the hosts participating in the qualifiers, and the draw seeding based on the rankings from the last edition in 2014 won by North Korea . The 45 nations were divided into two qualifying zones — West Zone with 24 teams and East Zone with 21 teams. Eleven group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals, with hosts India receiving an automatic qualification (total 16 teams). In case India finish top of its qualifying group or among the four best second-placed teams, the next (5th) second best placed nation will qualify for the final competition. 

Jordan was eliminated from the 2014 AFC U-16 qualifiers held in Amman after finishing last in Group D. Jordan lost to both Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia 2-1, and drew 4-4 with Syria.

5th West Asian Championship Standings