The National U-23 Football Team will face host Qatar in the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers at the Aspire in Doha on Friday at 8:30pm Kabul time.
Afghanistan is in Group A with Nepal, Oman, and Qatar.
Team Afghanistan is undertaking their exercises for the past one week by their coach Mujtaba Faiz.
“We hope that we can better represent Afghanistan and its football,” said Faiz.
“We are facing the champion of Asia. Our team is also the best team. Our players are ready,” said Hamidullah Yusufzai, assistant coach of the national team.
This time, two new footballers who have the experience of playing in Europe have been included to the national team.
In Group B, Bahrain will attempt to qualify for the fourth consecutive edition, as they go up against Palestine, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Iran, the host nation for Group C, will test their mettle against 2013 champions Iraq, Turkmenistan, and Yemen.
Saudi Arabia, the 2013 runners-up, will be aiming to better their previous best result after failing to progress past the group stage in 2018. They host the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Maldives in Group D. Kuwait were among the teams who competed in the inaugural AFC U23 Championship in 2013 and will bid to reach the Finals again when they face Jordan, Syria and Kyrgyz Republic in Group E.
Reigning champions and Group F host Uzbekistan will begin their title defense against Tajikistan and India in Group F. Mongolia will be counting on home support when they host Group G, going up against DPR Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Cambodia have yet to reach the Finals but they are determined to impress when they welcome Korea Republic, Australia and Chinese Taipei in Group H. After missing out on two editions, Group I host Myanmar, will play against 2016 champions Japan, Timor-Leste, and Macau. Malaysia, quarter-finalists in 2018, will be aiming to make the Finals again when they host Group J which has China PR, Laos and Philippines.
Vietnam, which finished runners-up in 2018, will host Group K with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam.