KUWAIT CITY, Oct 15: The Kuwait U-23 football squad faced off against the Qatari U-23 team in a friendly match held in Doha. The match concluded with a final score of 0-1 in favor of the Qatari team. This friendly fixture was a crucial part of the Kuwaiti team's rigorous training regimen in anticipation of the AFC U-23 Cup finals, scheduled to be hosted in Doha in April 2024.

Captain Jarrah Al-Ateeqi, the manager of the Kuwaiti U-23 team, shared his thoughts with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following the match. He expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their commendable efforts during the 90 minutes of play against a highly prepared Qatari squad. Al-Ateeqi acknowledged that an unfortunate error had led to the conceding of a goal and the loss in this friendly match.

However, Al-Ateeqi stressed that the primary objective of such matches is to derive valuable experience and learning opportunities for the team. The ultimate and most significant goal remains to deliver a strong and honorable performance in the upcoming Asian Cup finals, a tournament that serves as a qualifier for the prestigious Paris Olympics.

This match is a vital part of the Kuwaiti U-23 team's preparations for the upcoming AFC U-23 Cup finals. The tournament, set to take place from April 15 to May 3, 2024, in Qatar, holds the key to qualification for the Olympic Games to be held in Paris. (KUNA)