Top 10 U-23 players to watch out for at AFC Asian Cup 2023

These young players have already shined at club level and will aim to leave a mark in the AFC Asian Cup.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup assures to produce some blockbuster action that represents the growth of Asian football at its brightest aspect. There is an added sense of competitiveness around the tournament this time around, with so many quality teams in the running to be called Asia’s best.

The most exciting thing about Asian football right now is how the youth development process has improved. As a result, there will be a lot of talented young players who will showcase their qualities this time around. Here we look at the top U-23 players to watch in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

10. Lalengmawia Ralte (India)

Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia) will be playing in a major tournament like the AFC Asian Cup for the first time for India. However, he has played in the AFC Champions League for the past few seasons with Mumbai City and put in some commendable performances against challenging oppositions. Apuia’s passing ability, press-resistant nature and hard-working ability can help him compete in the Asian Cup and be one of India’s standouts.

9. Shakhrom Samiev (Tajikistan)

Tajikistan might fancy their chances of going to the knockout stages in a group with Lebanon and China, but their players will need to surpass expectations. They have a promising young forward in 22-year-old Shakhrom Samiev expected to lead their frontline and one who has excelled for them so far.

Samiev has seven goals in 22 international caps and five goal contributions in 11 appearances in the Moldova first division for Milsami this season. He is tall and proactive in the final third, but needs to put his goal-scoring efficiency to good use and torment the opponents.

8. Ali Saleh (UAE)

Ali Saleh is a promising up-and-coming forward for the United Arab Emirates who is heading into the AFC Asian Cup at the back of some good form. The Al-Wasl forward has impressed in the UAE Pro League this season, scoring twice and assisting five times in 11 games. Saleh excels in the left-wing role and can also play through the middle, and has three goals for UAE. This is the biggest platform for him to prove his quality, as he aims to use his pace and incisiveness in the final third to inspire UAE’s performances.

7. Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Saudi Arabia)

The Al Nassr goalkeeper is rubbing shoulders with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane at the club level and is likely to be the No.1 for Saudi Arabia in the AFC Asian Cup as well. Al-Aqidi has kept six clean-sheets this season, including two in five AFC Champions League games.

He is a smart, reliable goalkeeper who can come up with rapid reflex saves when forced. Al-Aqidi has to be at his strongest and error-prone to help Saudi Arabia keep clean-sheets and go far into the competition.

6. Oston Urunov (Uzbekistan)

The talented 23-year-old attacking midfielder has performed quite well for Uzbekistan, having scored five goals in 21 appearances for them. Urunov might’ve recently been released by Navbahor, but he impressed in the AFC Champions League this season with five goal contributions in as many appearances.

He is an explosive midfielder, who can run forward with the ball and time his final passes perfectly. Urunov can be an unpredictable threat for Uzbekistan and cause major issues for the opponents if able to time his final product ideally.

5. Keito Nakamura (Japan)

Keito Nakamura has been a thrilling player to watch for Japan and maintained a very prolific nature for the Samurai Blue too! He has scored five goals in as many appearances and is slowly turning into an undroppable figure.

The Reims winger is blessed with speed and impressive close control, while he also tends to finish chances clinically. Nakamura will aim to maintain his fantastic goal-per-game heroics for Japan and keep ruthlessly finishing chances in every game.

4. Firas Al-Buraikan (Saudi Arabia)

Firas Al-Buraikan has been on fire in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Ahli this season, outshining some of the prominent foreign players with his brilliant performances. He has 16 goal contributions in 17 league appearances this season including 11 goals, and is set to spearhead the attack for Saudi Arabia at the AFC Asian Cup.

Al-Buraikan is a ruthless finisher who doesn’t really need that many chances to score. He’ll be determined to be at his ruthless best and finish off chances emphatically to inspire Saudi Arabia to big wins.

3. Abdukodir Khusanov (Uzbekistan)

Abdukodir Khusanov is turning out to be Uzbekistan football’s next big thing and has already achieved big things at the age of 19. The teenager has made five appearances in Ligue 1 for RC Lens this season, helping them keep two clean-sheets.

He is strong, quick and can read the opposition moves surprisingly well for his age. Khusanov impressed for Uzbekistan last year and is likely to get a lot of minutes in the AFC Asian Cup. He will be aiming to prove his quality by bullying forwards much older than him and stamping his authority as one of Asia’s best young defenders.

2. Kang-in Lee (South Korea)

Kang-in Lee earned himself a big move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window last year and has had a topsy-turvy start to his career at the club. He has been selected for the South Korea team to play in the AFC Asian Cup and will look to run riot against the opponent.

Lee is a speedy winger who excels in dribbling past opponents and creating chances for his teammates. He could add that extra feistiness in his side’s attack and use his unpredictable side to cut open opposition backlines with ease.

1. Takefusa Kubo (Japan)

Takefusa Kubo will be one of THE players to watch out for in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He has been flying in a rich vein of form for Real Sociedad this season and tormented the best defenders in La Liga with his Messi-esque dribbling skills and trickery with the ball.

The 22-year-old has nine goal contributions in 18 La Liga games this season and will be a vocal force in Japan’s attack. Kubo will look to terrorize defenders with his dribbling, slither into promising positions and be the decisive factor that will lead Japan to another AFC Asian Cup success.

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