Sanchez exudes confidence

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez exuded confidence following Olympic team’s wins against North Korea and Singapore in the friendlies in Doha last week.

The hosts had beaten Singapore 3-0 and 2-0 and notched up a 3-0 win against the Koreans as a part of the team’s preparation for the AFC U-23 Championship Group C qualifiers in Doha from July 19 to 23.

Qatar open their campaign against Turkmenistan on July 19 while Syria and India are the other teams in the group.

“The boys are in good shape. We hope to do well in the tournament,” said the Spaniard, who guided the U-19 team to Asian glory three years ago in Myanmar.  

Al Moez Ali, who won the Qatar Football Association’s best U-23 player award this year, Ahmed Moin, Meshaal Al Shammari and Ahmed Al Saadi were on target and that should give Sanchez a plenty of confidence as Qatar hope to seal a berth.

A total of 16 teams (10 group winners, five best second-placed sides and hosts China) will compete in the event, to be held from January 9 to 27, 2018.

Qatar had finished fourth in the tournament’s last edition in Doha, which was also the qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.