Al-Felkawi gives instructions to a Kuwaiti player.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 30: Kuwait's U-20 team secured third place in Group Three after a goalless draw against the UAE in its final match of the Asian Cup qualifiers, hosted at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Stadium, Al-Yarmouk Club. 

Assistant coach Al-Felakawi acknowledged the players' visible physical fatigue, particularly in the latter stages of the tournament. He highlighted that the intense schedule and the strength of their opponents hindered Kuwait's chances of qualifying for the finals, falling short of the team's ambitions.

Al-Felakawi called on the Asian Football Confederation to reconsider the current qualification system, noting that the existing format could result in unfair outcomes for certain teams. He emphasized the potential of the Kuwaiti U-20 team, urging for better care and support to prepare it for future competitions, including training camps and friendly matches. He concluded by stressing the importance of nurturing this talented squad, which boasts strong individual players across all positions and can make a significant impact in future tournaments.

South Korea topped the group with four consecutive wins, while the UAE finished second with seven points, edging Kuwait on goal difference. Lebanon placed fourth with three points, and the Northern Mariana Islands ended the qualifiers with zero points.

According to the tournament rules, the top team from each of the ten groups qualifies, along with the five best second-placed teams. The teams qualifying for the 2025 finals are Qatar, Jordan, Syria, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Australia, North Korea, Indonesia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Thailand, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, with China automatically qualifying as the host nation.

By Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff