Kuwait U-23 team set for Asian Games opener against Vietnam

The U-23 team intensifies training for the opener.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept. 13: The Kuwait U-23 national team will wrap up preparations today ahead of its opening match at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where it faces Vietnam tomorrow in Group C.

The tournament runs from September 19 to October 4, with Kuwait scheduled to meet Uzbekistan on September 18 before concluding its group campaign against the Philippines on September 22.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.

Head coach David Doniga has selected a 23-player squad for the tournament. The squad includes Dhari Al-Masri, Abdulrahman Ajaj, Abdulridha Shehab, Hamoud Al-Sanousi, Bandar Al-Brazi, Ahmed Boudi, Montaser Al-Abdulsalam, Ali Hassan, Jassem Al-Anzi, Bandar Al-Salama, Jassem Shamouh, Abdullah Al-Ghanimah, Omar Al-Matar, Abdullah Fares, Saleh Al-Mohatab, Talal Al-Qaisi, Muath Al-Asima, Eid Al-Azmi, Ahmed Khorashid, Mohammed Al-Suraie, Fawaz Al-Mubailesh, Nasser Khader and Mohammed Al-Sharifi.

Ali Hassan, Abdulrahman Ajaj and Nasser Khader were subsequently left out of the squad, with Salmiya goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Ayyoub and Al-Nasr player Abdulaziz Al-Shammari called up as replacements.