Asia’s brightest talents will be on show as the sixth edition of AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 kicks off on Monday. Over the years, the competition has witnessed a number of players who have gone on to impress for club and country, and that is exactly what the current crop of players will be aiming for as they also seek continental glory and a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by finishing as one of the top three teams. From Japanese midfield livewire Kuryu Matsuki to United Arab Emirates prolific scorer Sultan Adil, the-AFC.com takes a look at eight youngsters who could make heads turn in the latest edition of the continental competition.
Ahmed Al Rawi – Qatar
After failing to clear the group stage in their last two attempts, Qatar will set their sights on their first-ever AFC U23 Asian Cup title as they host the tournament for the second time with 19-year-old Ahmed Al Rawi shouldering the attacking responsibility of Ilidio Vale’s side. Brother of two-time AFC Asian Cup-winning defender Bassam, the Al Rayyan player can play across the front three and has the pace and skill to go past defenders while also possessing the ability to hurt the opposition from dead-ball situations. Al Rawi, who opened his account for the senior national team against Kuwait last month, will hope to nail down his spot with an impressive display at the U23 event.
Kuryu Matsuki – Japan
Still only 20 years old, Kuryu Matsuki has established himself as a leader on and off the pitch at FC Tokyo where he wears the captain’s armband in only his third season in the Japanese top division. Hailing from Hokkaido, Matsuki is a willing runner and an all-round player who can play as a creator and a destructor in the midfield.
Matsuki, who bagged a goal and an assist as Japan finished third in the 2022 edition and captained his country to the semi-finals of the AFC U20 Asian Cup last year, was named the AFC Youth Player of the Year 2022 and will be hoping to continue his ascendancy on his return to the competition.
Eom Ji-sung (South Korea)
One of the K League’s brightest young prospects, Eom Ji-sung has made heads turn with his performances in recent seasons, first helping Gwangju FC to promotion to the top flight for the 2023 campaign after netting nine goals, before another nine-goal involvement in last season’s K League 1 guided them to a stunning third-place finish and a spot in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite playoffs. Predominantly a left winger, the Korean youngster likes to dribble at his opponents while also scoring crucial goals, as evidenced in last month’s WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) U-23 Championship when Eom’s winner knocked out hosts Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals en route to the title. He will now be aiming for a similar impact in neighbouring Qatar.
Sultan Adil – United Arab
Emirates
Having scored four goals in his last four competitive outings for the senior national team, Sultan Adil is undoubtedly the star name among the UAE players preparing for a tough battle in a group featuring Japan, South Korea and China. The 19-year-old striker has demonstrated an abundance of potential and maturity beyond his years in his short international career and a strong showing at the AFC U23 Asian Cup could once again underline that Adil is a worthy candidate to inherit the UAE’s goalscoring mantle from their all-time top scorer Ali Mabkhout.
Ali Jasim – Iraq
Ali Jasim has already written his name into Iraqi football history as the scorer of the goal that sent the country to a FIFA U20 World Cup. That strike came against rivals ran as Jasim turned the game on its head with a moment of brilliance to see his side through to the semi-finals of last year’s AFC U20 Asian Cup. With pace to burn and quick feet, the winger’s drives into the opponent’s box have been a hallmark of the young Lions of Mesopotamia’s game in recent years and the 20-year-old can also finish with both feet as seen in his AFC Champions League 2023/24 exploits with Air Force Club for whom he scored four times in the group stage.
Ahmed Al Ghamdi
– Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Al Ghamdi grew up in Vancouver, but he has made himself at home in the Saudi Pro League after joining Al Ettifaq at the start of 2020. Making a loan move to Al Ittihad this year, the 22-year-old has more than cemented a place for himself in a squad that features midfield stalwarts like Fabinho and N’Golo Kante, scoring two goals in six games so far. Al Ghamdi returns to the AFC U23 Asian Cup to try to help Saudi Arabia become the first side to defend their title, having scored the opening goal in their 2-0 victory against Uzbekistan in the 2022 final. With another impressive show, the midfielder can start dreaming of returning to Canada – this time with the Green Falcons when the country co-hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Marselino Ferdinan – Indonesia
Hailed as a generational talent by Indonesian football fans, 19-year-old Marselino Ferdinan, who plies his trade in Belgium with KMSK Deinze, already has over 20 senior caps for Indonesia and recently became their youngest-ever scorer at an AFC Asian Cup when he scored in their group stage opener against Iraq. Marselino has already tasted considerable success with the U23 national team, guiding them to a bronze medal finish at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games and then helping them win their first gold medal in 32 years in 2023. Now, the attacking midfielder will hope to make a mark with them at the continental stage in Qatar.
Khusain Norchaev – Uzbekistan
Khusain Norchaev burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old during the 2020/21 season when the young striker laced up his goalscoring boots for FC Nasaf both domestically and in Asia – with his most remarkable display being a hat-trick against India’s ATK Mohun Bagan in the Inter-Zone semi-final of the AFC Cup.
Norchaev scored hat-tricks against Afghanistan and Hong Kong, China to help Uzbekistan reach the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup and, in 2022, he netted twice in the tournament proper to help his country reach the final. Ultimately losing out to the Saudis, the 22-year-old will hope to go one step further this time around.