DUSHANBE — Afghanistan’s national under‑20 football team held its first training session in preparation for the Central Asia Football Association (CAFA) Championship, set to begin on Tuesday in Dushanbe.
Members of the team said they are ready to win upcoming matches in favor of Afghanistan.
“We began our first session in Dushanbe and concluded it successfully. We are tactically and technically ready, and God willing, we will win medals for Afghanistan,” Goalkeeper Abdulrahim Rasouli, speaking after the session.
“Physically, mentally, and emotionally, we are very well prepared. We are going into the upcoming matches with confidence and aim for the championship,” Midfielder Sohrab Rateb added.
Coach Ahmad Zia Azimi said the squad has been training together for three months. He noted that eight or nine players, who had previously played in the under-17 team and won the CAFA title, are highly motivated, and the new players have also integrated well.
The championship will feature six teams: Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and hosts Tajikistan. The tournament draw is scheduled for Tuesday.
