Iran U20 Coach Abdi Alerts Team to Yemen’s Challenge in Asian Cup

Iran’s U20 coach Hossein Abdi warns of Yemen’s potential threat ahead of their AFC U20 Asian Cup match, highlighting the difficulties posed by Yemeni players. Yemen’s coach Mohammed Hasan Ali Al Baadani expresses determination to improve following a loss to Uzbekistan as both teams prepare for a challenging encounter.

Iran’s U20 head coach, Hossein Abdi, is aware of the potential threat posed by Yemen as the teams prepare to meet in their AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Group C match. The game will take place on Sunday at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base. Yemen previously challenged Iran, drawing in regulation time before Iran secured a victory in the penalty shootout during the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2023 quarter-finals held in Thailand.

Abdi has emphasized the importance of approaching the match with caution, noting that Yemen is a formidable opponent. “We are facing a very tough match against Yemen. In fact, all our matches will be challenging, and every team will be focused on securing points,” he stated. He praised Yemen’s discipline and ability to maintain possession, asserting that they rank among Asia’s best teams.

The Iranian squad has faced difficulties with training commitments, as some players are involved with the senior team. As a result, they had only seven days to train together in preparation for the tournament. Yet, Abdi remains confident of his team’s capability to rise to the occasion during the competition.

On the other hand, Mohammed Hasan Ali Al Baadani, Yemen’s coach, has expressed determination to rebound following their opening match loss to Uzbekistan. Highlighting the match’s narrow margins, he stated, “We are still in this competition despite the defeat to Uzbekistan. Football is a game of fine margins and we will do our best to improve our finishing and come back stronger against Iran.”

Overall, both coaches recognize the challenges ahead, aiming for their teams to be competitive in this pivotal match as part of their Asian Cup journey.

In summary, the upcoming clash between Iran and Yemen in the AFC U20 Asian Cup is poised to be a highly competitive match. Coach Abdi is wary of Yemen’s capabilities and stresses the need for his team to remain sharp and focused. Conversely, Coach Al Baadani aims to address Yemen’s finishing issues following their recent defeat, with both teams striving for success in the tournament.

Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com