Philippines begins qualification campaign

By Adrian Stewart Co

The Philippine men’s national U-23 football team begins their qualification campaign for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship today in Malaysia. The qualifying rounds are expected to run until Tuesday, March 26, while the competition itself is scheduled to take place in Thailand from January 8 to 26.

The Philippine is drawn in Group J and first faces Malaysia. Also in the group are China and Laos.

This year’s squad is primarily made up of players who took part in the 2019 AFF U-22 Youth Championship, which took place last month in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The competition also serves as a qualifier for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which will take place next year in Tokyo, Japan from July 24 to August 9.

“We wish the Philippines Men’s Under-23 team good luck,” said Philippine Football Federation general secretary, Atty. Edwin Gastanes. “It is a dream for each player to play in the Olympics.”/ASC, WDJ