U-16 team takes on Palestine

AMMAN — Jordan’s U-16 football team will play Palestine on Monday in the second of friendly as both teams prepare for the West Asian Championship in Amman starting July 29. 

Jordan lost 3-2 to their guests in the first encounter and team officials led by head coach Éric Delétang underlined the importance of the two friendlies which “will give the staff the chance to assess the team ahead of the upcoming event”.

Jordan Football Association technical department head Ahmad Qteishat said the U-16 team will host its Saudi Arabian counterpart on August 26 ahead of Group B qualifiers which will be held from September 12 -20 in Kyrgyzstan for the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship where Jordan will play alongside Nepal, Oman and Kyrgyzstan.

India will host the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship with a total of 45 nations, including India participating in the qualifiers, and the draw seeding based on the rankings from the last edition in 2014 which was won by North Korea. The 45 nations were divided into two qualifying zones — West Zone which has 24 teams and East Zone with 21 teams.

Eleven group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals, with host India receiving an automatic qualification (total 16 teams). In case India finishes 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 Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia 2-1 and drew 4-4 with Syria.