Kurdish Players Tapped for Iraqi Olympic Team's Asian Cup Campaign
Iraq's Olympic football team has called up several Kurdish players, including talent from Erbil, Duhok, and Europe, for its training camp ahead of the crucial AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Iraqi Olympic football team has called up a strong contingent of talent, including three Kurdish players, as it begins preparations for the upcoming AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers—a crucial step in the nation’s bid to secure a place at the next Olympic Games.
The national side, under the management of coach Imad Mohammed, is set to begin its initial training in Baghdad before traveling to Malaysia for an external training camp.
This intensive preparation period comes as the crucial qualifying tournament, scheduled for next month, draws near.
According to Kurdistan24 sources, the roster announced by coach Mohammed features a number of players from clubs based in the Kurdistan Region.
The invitations cover six players from Erbil, Duhok, and Newroz clubs, highlighting the contribution of the region's talent pool to the national team.
From Duhok, the call-ups include Josef Imam, Mustafa Nawaf, and Hassan Emad. Erbil club will be represented by Mustafa Qabil and Zulfiqar Younis.
The list of invited players also includes goalkeeper Imran Zaki of Zakho club, who recently joined the Mosul team, and Newroz SC club goalkeeper Reza Abdulaziz, who arrived this summer from Najaf club.
Adding international experience to the squad is the professional Kurdish player Botan Amin, who plays for the English club Swindon Town.
He has been invited to participate in the training camp in Malaysia, further bolstering the team's depth as it seeks to qualify for the upcoming Olympics.
