Under 23 National Football Team will be playing five friendly matches in Lhaviyani atoll, during next month's training camp.
The team is preparing for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifying games to be held this October. While the coaching staff for the team was announced on August 10, this includes Ali Suzain as head coach.
While Suzain has since been appointed caretaker coach of the men's national football team for the upcoming 13th SAFF Championship, he spoke about the U-23 team's preparations for the AFC Asian Cup qualifying games during a press conference held last Thursday by the senior team coaching staff. However, he stressed that his main priority right now is preparing the senior team for next month's SAFF Championship..
Sobah Mohamed Ibrahim and Mohamed Shahid, who were appointed assistance coaches for the U-23 team on August 10, are currently handling the junior team.
While the team is to camp in Lhaviyani atoll from 4 - 12 September, FAM started trials for the U-23 team last Saturday.
They are to play five friendlies -against N. Kudafari, N. Holhudhoo, Lh. Naifaru, R. Meedhoo and Lh. Hinnavaru- and Suzain previously said that athletes competing from these teams will be scouted for the 30-player squad.
While the team is to camp in Lhaviyani Atoll in the coming month, they are also to take part in next year’s AFC U-23 Asian Cup. The qualifying matches for Group C -in which Maldives is in together with Bahrain, Iraq and Afghanistan- are to be played from 27 - 31 October in Bahrain.
FAM previously announced that the team will train in Bahrain for 10 days, prior to the qualifying games.
Maldives' first match in the qualifications will be against Iraq on October 27, with the second match scheduled for October 29 against Bahrain. The U-23 teams final match of the group stage will be against Afghanistan on October 31.
42 teams were drawn into 11 groups back in July with 15 spots available at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022; Uzbekistan has already confirmed their place as hosts. A total of 16 teams will qualify to play in AFC U-23 Asian Cup to be held from 1–19 June 2022. South Korea is the defending champion.
The eleven group winners and the four best runners-up qualify for the final tournament.
