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With the AFC U23 Championship 2016 set to begin in Qatar, the excitement is starting to build as fans throughout the continent wait to see if their favourites will rule the Asian roost.BACKGROUNDThe inaugural event – the 2013 AFC U22 Championship – took place in Oman in January 2014 after the original tournament was postponed.This is the first time the event will be used as the qualifier for the Olympic Games. The top three teams from this tournament will qualify for Rio 2016.The tournament is open to all the AFC’s Member Associations. Participating teams take part in an official qualification round, with 16 advancing to the finals. The qualifiers were held on official match days in March 2015. As with other age-limit national team competitions, the qualification groups were drawn on a zonal basis for the West (West, Central and South Asia) and the East (East and ASEAN). The previous competition’s ranking was applied for the seeding of teams during the draw and Qatar, as 2016 hosts, received a direct bye to the finals.A total of 44 member associations entered the qualifying competition for the 2016 edition. Excluding Qatar, 43 teams competed in 10 groups, with the group winners and the five best second-placed teams going through to the finals where they will be joined by the hosts.Widely regarded as the AFC’s second biggest national team competition after the AFC Asian Cup, the competition in Qatar is expected to attract a plethora of attention from sponsors, fans and media alike.FORMATThe 16 teams - Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Korea Republic, Australia, Syria, Japan, UAE, Iran, DPR Korea, Uzbekistan, China, Yemen, Thailand and Vietnam - have been divided into four groups of four teams each and each group shall play a one-round league. The top two teams in each group (eight teams in total) will qualify for the knockout stage. The champions, the runners-up and the third-placed team will qualify for the Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016.THE TEAMSAUSTRALIAAustralia head to Qatar aiming for a continental double as the Olyroos look to add the U23 trophy to the AFC Asian Cup the senior side won on home soil back in January, while a top-three finish will see Aurelio Vidmar’s side become Australia’s sixth representatives at the Olympic Games since the tournament became an Under 23s competition in 1992. Australia stormed into the 2016 AFC U23 Championship finals after finishing top of Group F, scoring a tournament-leading 15 times in their victories over Hong Kong (6-0), Chinese Taipei (4-0) and Myanmar (5-1), with five of their tally coming from former Scotland U-19 international Jamie Maclaren.IRAQInaugural champions Iraq, winners of the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship, earned the right to defend their title at next year’s finals in Doha by topping Group A under Yahya Alwan, who subsequently took charge of the senior team in August following an 11th hour change of mind by former Qatar coach Dzemal Hadziabdic. The title holders, who defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the historic final thanks to a 33rd minute winner from 2012 AFC Youth Player of the Year Mohannad Abdul-Raheem, displayed their championship credentials during the qualifiers as they recorded victories over Lebanon (4-1), the Maldives (7-0) and Bahrain (2-0). Iraq picked up the point they needed to top the table in their final match against Oman but not before enduring a nervous finish as the Group A hosts scored twice in the last two minutes as Alwan’s side let slip a two-goal lead.QATARAs tournament hosts, Qatar were exempt from the qualifying campaign and will be keen to put on a strong showing on home soil after failing to qualify for the 2013 AFC U22 Championship. Quarter-finalists at the 1992 Olympics - when the tournament became an under 23 event - and Asian Games gold medal winners on home soil in 2006, Qatar have a reasonable pedigree at this level and could feature a number of players from the side that won the 2014 AFC U19 Championship in Myanmar.KOREA REPUBLICA powerhouse at under 23 level, Korea Republic made the most of a comparatively kind qualification draw as Shin Tae-yong’s side cruised to victories over Brunei (5-0), Timor Leste (3-0) and group hosts Indonesia to qualify for Qatar 2016 with a perfect record. Bronze medallists at the 2012 London Olympics and champions at the 2014 Asian Games (again with a 100% record), the South Koreans were unable to include the inaugural AFC U22 Championship to their impressive roll of honour after their campaign came to an end at the semi-final stage following a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Iraq.JORDANA second-half hat-trick from Al Wehdat forward Baha’ Faisal Mohammad saw Jordan draw 3-3 with Kuwait to take top spot in Group B having previously enjoyed comfortable wins over Pakistan (5-0) and Kyrgyzstan (4-0), who held the Kuwaitis to a goalless draw earlier in the campaign to the advantage of Jamal Abu Abed’s side. Jordan finished an impressive third at the inaugural AFC U22 Championship after defeating Korea Republic 3-2 on penalties following a goalless draw after extra-time at the Seeb Stadium, having also drawn with the South Koreans in the group stage.SAUDI ARABIARunners-up to Iraq at the inaugural AFC U22 Championship, Saudi Arabia overcame a sluggish start to the 2016 qualifiers to advance as winners of Group C. After needing an 88th minute Abdullah Madu penalty to see off Palestine in their opening match, the Saudis were held to a surprise goalless draw by Afghanistan before finishing their campaign strongly with wins over Nepal (6-0) and Iran (2-1). One of the strongest teams in their region, the Saudis won the 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations U23 Championship with a 5-2 victory over Kuwait in the final in Bahrain to win the tournament for third time in six editions.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESThe United Arab Emirates advanced to next year’s continental championship in neighbouring Qatar  by topping Group D with a 100% record following victories over Sri Lanka (4-0), Tajikistan (3-0) and Yemen (1-0). Quarter-finalists at the inaugural AFC U22 Championship, where their run in Oman ended with a 1-0 loss to Jordan, the UAE will be aiming for at least a top three finish in next year’s edition, which would see the Emiratis return to the Olympic Games for only the second time following an impressive showing at London 2012, where a team that featured a number of players that would go to feature for the senior side that finished third at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, shone in the global spotlight.SYRIASyria sealed passage to the AFC U23 Championship for the second time, having reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural tournament in Oman in 2014, by winning 2016 qualifying Group E in impressive fashion with successive wins over Bangladesh (4-0), India (4-0), and Uzbekistan (2-1). Star of the show in Dhaka - and arguably of the entire qualifiers - was Iraq-based Omar Kharbin, who is a regular feature in the Syria senior squad. After scoring twice against hosts Bangladesh and then India the Al Mina’a forward completed a hat-trick of doubles in the top-of the-table decider against Uzbekistan, with his first-half brace seeing the Syrians finish ahead of the Central Asians and Kharbin emerge as the top scorer in the qualifiers.DPR KOREAOne of the continent’s strongest sides at youth competition having won titles at under 19, under 17 and under 14 levels, DPR Korea failed in their quest to add the under 22 trophy to their list of accolades as they bowed out of the inaugural AFC U22 Championship at the Group Stage. But the North Koreans will have a second bite of the cherry after qualifying for next year’s finals by edging Thailand on goal difference to top Group G, after playing out a goalless draw with the group hosts following wins over the Philippines (4-0) and Cambodia (4-1).JAPANLike their East Asian neighbours Korea Republic, Japan bowed out of the inaugural AFC U22 Championship following a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Iraq, only Makoto Teguramori’s side fell at an earlier hurdle as Japan exited at the quarter-final stage. And like the South Koreans, Japan’s return to the tournament with qualification to next year’s finals in Qatar was achieved with clinical efficiency as the Samurai Blue - who have participated in every edition of the Olympics since 1996 - defeating Macau (7-0), Vietnam (2-0) and hosts Malaysia (1-0) to top Group I with a 100% record.CHINAChina will be looking to make a better impression in Qatar than they did in Oman at the inaugural AFC U22 Championship, where they failed to get beyond the group stage following defeats to Uzbekistan (2-1), runners-up Saudi Arabia (2-1) and Iraq (1-0), who went on to complete a hat-trick of wins over East Asians sides with subsequent victories over Japan and Korea Republic on route to becoming champions. The Chinese qualified to the 2016 AFC U23 Championship by topping Group J in emphatic fashion after consecutive 5-0 wins over over Mongolia and Singapore set up decisive meeting with group hosts Laos, which ended with a convincing 3-0 victory for Fu Bo’s side.THAILANDHaving missed out on the inaugural AFC U22 Championship, Thailand will make their tournament debut after qualifying for Qatar 2016 as the first best second-placed team with a runners-up finish in Group G behind DPR Korea. In what was the tightest finish amongst all the qualifying groups, the Thais had to settle for second place after a 0-0 draw with the North Koreans saw them finish below the Ra Pong-gi coached side on goal difference. Thailand, six-time SEA Games gold-medallists set up the top-of-the-table clash following victories over Asean rivals Cambodia (2-1) and the Philippines (5-1).IRANBuoyed by the four goals of the prodigiously talented Sardar Azmoun - who scored three times at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup including a sublime strike against Qatar - Iran recorded victories over Nepal (5-0), Palestine (3-0), and Afghanistan (6-0) and went into the Group C decider needing just a point against Saudi Arabia to advance as group winners. A 2-1 defeat, however, saw the Saudis take top spot although Iran would ultimately still qualify to the finals as the second best second-placed team, to mark a second appearance in the tournament after taking part in the inaugural competition, where they failed to reach the knockout stage after finishing third in their group behind Japan and Australia.VIETNAMVietnam emerged as the third tournament debutants alongside 2016 AFC U23 Championship hosts Qatar and fellow Asean side Thailand after their wins over Malaysia (2-1) and Macau (7-0) ultimately proved enough to take the Group I runners-up through as the third best second-placed team. Qualification for next year’s final rates highly in the list of achievements for Vietnam who are relatively unheralded at under 23 level having never qualified for the Olympics or gone beyond the Round of 16 at the Asian Games. Although they have never won the SEA Games, Vietnam did claim the silver medal three times and the bronze once since the regional tournament became an under 23 competition in 2001.YEMENA hard-fought win over Tajikistan followed by a comprehensive hammering of Sri Lanka earned Yemen a return to the AFC U23 Championship finals after qualifying for the inaugural tournament, where they were unable to progress beyond the group stage after losing all three games in Oman. Yemen’s quest to reach the 2016 AFC U23 Championship began positively after a brace from Aiman al-Hagri saw the Gulf side edge the Tajiks 2-1. The side led by former Czech Republic youth team coach Miroslav Soukup then hit five past Sri Lanka without reply before Yemen ended their qualification campaign with a narrow 1-0 loss to table-topping UAE to reach the finals as the fourth best second-placed team after finishing Group D runners-up.UZBEKISTANUzbekistan made the 2016 AFC U23 Championship by taking the last berth available as the fifth best second-placed team, with inaugural hosts Oman, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Laos all missing out after finishing runners-up in their respective groups. The Central Asians left it late to win their Group E opener with goals in the 87th minute and second-half stoppage time finally seeing off India before Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov’s side enjoyed a more comfortable win over hosts Bangladesh. After going down 2-1 to group winners Syria, Uzbekistan’s victories of the South Asian duo proved enough to see the Uzbeks return to the finals having qualified for the inaugural tournament, where they failed to make it to the knockout stage after finishing third behind eventual finalists Saudi Arabia and Iraq.Fixture list for the AFC U23 Championship, 2016Group AJanuary 12Syria v Iran 1630hrsVenue: Jassim Bin Hamad StadiumQatar v China 1930hrsVenue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa StadiumJanuary 15China v Syria 1630hrsVenue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa StadiumIran v Qatar 1930hrsVenue: Jassim Bin Hamad StadiumJanuary 18Qatar v Syria 1930hrsVenue: Jassim Bin Hamad StadiumIran v China 1930hrsVenue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa StadiumGroup BJanuary 13Japan v DPR Korea 1630hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumSaudi Arabia v Thailand 1930hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumJanuary 16Thailand v Japan 1630hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumDPR Korea v Saudi Arabia 1930hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumJanuary 19Saudi Arabia v Japan 1630hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumDPR Korea v Thailand 1630hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumGroup CJanuary 13Iraq v Yemen 1630hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumKorea Republic v Uzbekistan 1930hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumJanuary 16Yemen v Korea Republic 1630hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumUzbekistan v Iraq 1930hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumJanuary 19Iraq v Korea Republic 1930hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumUzbekistan v Yemen 1930hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumGroup DJanuary 14Jordan v Vietnam 1630hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumAustralia v UAE  1930hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumJanuary 17Vietnam v Australia 1630hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumUAE v Jordan 1930hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumJanuary 20Jordan v Australia 1930hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumUAE v Vietnam 1930hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumQuarter-FinalsJanuary 22QF2 Winner Group B v Runner Up Group AKick-off: 1630hrsVenue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa StadiumQF1 Winner Group A v Runner Up Group BKick-off: 1930hrsVenue: Jassim Bin Hamad StadiumJanuary 23QF3 Winner Group C v Runner Up Group DKick-off: 1630hrsVenue: Suhaim Bin Hamad StadiumQF4 Winner Group D v Runner Up Group CKick-off: 1930hrsVenue: Grand Hamad StadiumSemi-FinalsJanuary 26SF2 – Winner QF2 v Winner QF 4Kick-off: 1630hrsVenue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa StadiumSF1 – Winner QF1 v Winner QF 3Kick-off: 1930hrsVenue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium3rd / 4th PlacingJanuary 29Loser SF1 v Loser SF2Kick-off: 1745hrsVenue: Jassim Bin Hamad StadiumFinalJanuary 30Winner SF1 v Winner SF2Kick-off: 1745hrsVenue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium