AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 Rival watch: Uzbekistan

The White Wolves have a lot of potential and are strong candidates to win the continental tournament.

India's U-17 team are currently slugging it out in the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup taking place in Thailand. The Blue Colts are in Group D, alongside dangerous teams like Vietnam U-17, Japan U-17, and Uzbekistan U-17. 

From these three opponents, the Uzbekistan U-17 team is one of the strongest teams in Asia. Their young players are full of potential and have the ability to outplay any team on their day. Tournaments like the AFC U-17 Asian Cup serve as a brilliant opportunity to witness the upcoming generation of footballers who will dominate the game for years to come. In that regard, Uzbekistan U-17 has a lot of talent that will make a mark in Asian football.

As the White Wolves prepare to embark on a journey at the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup that could end with a qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, here is a look at what they bring to the table.

Recent Performances

Uzbekistan U-17 men’s football team have been performing well off late. Their opening game of the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup against Japan U-17 ended in a 1-1 draw. It was a competitive game with both teams showcasing their qualities and not giving any breathing space to the opponents. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIXTN3BJOI8

The U-17 squad played against India in January 2023 where they won one and lost one by a score of 2-0 and 0-3 respectively. Later, they took part in the Antalya Youth Cup where they beat the likes of Morocco, the Czech Republic and Australia. Post that, the White Wolves had a South American tour where they played two matches each with Uruguay and Argentina - losing all of them but gaining valuable experience. Two wins against Vietnam followed the tour and then they played a friendly against FC Bunyodkor U-19 of Uzbekistan (losing 3-2) and Malaysia (winning 3-2). 

About the team

The U-17 developmental squad has a lot of talent due to the rich footballing culture in Uzbekistan. They won the erstwhile AFC U-16 Championship in 2012, which was a remarkable achievement, before finishing as runners-up in 2010. 

The White Wolves have participated in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on two occasions. They reached the quarter-finals in 2011 and the Round of 16 in 2013. Considering the ambitions of Uzbekistan as a footballing nation, finishing as one of the top four countries at the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup only for the third time in their history will be the target. 

The Coach

Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev leads the Uzbekistan U-17 squad with zeal and passion. He led the Uzbekistan U-16 team to the runners-up position at the CAFA U-16 Championships in 2022. The head coach is a brilliant leader who has a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of youth development. Due to his expertise in youth football, the upcoming generation of footballers in Uzbekistan is in safe hands. 

Player to Watch

Amir Saidov

Uzbekistan U-17 has a host of promising young players, but Amir Saidov stands out from the crowd. The striker came off the bench to score a crucial equalizer against Japan U-17 to secure a point for his team in the opening game of the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. He has a good pace and acceleration that can catch defenders by surprise. Top that with exceptional finishing, he becomes a dangerous forward. 

What to Expect

Uzbekistan U-17 is a difficult team to beat and the Japan U-17 team experienced this first-hand. The White Wolves as a squad have incredible cohesion as they defend and attack as a unit. Their target is to qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and reaching the semi-finals is the minimum they will aim for at the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. On paper, the outfit is the favourite to qualify as one of the top two teams from Group D.