TOUGH FOR LAOS AND TIMOR LESTE IN AFC U16 QUALIFIERS

TOUGH FOR LAOS AND TIMOR LESTE IN AFC U16 QUALIFIERS

VIENTIANE (22 Feb 2009) – The road is tough for Laos and Timor Leste when they found themselves against difficult oppositions in the AFC U16 Championship 2010 qualifiers in October. The Laotians, who held Australia in the last qualifiers in 2006, will once again cross swords against the side from Down Under where they will also have Malaysia for company in Group H. With just three teams in the group, only the side which emerged at the top of the round of matches will qualify for the main draw. On the other hand Timor Leste will be up against two-time winners China alongside Hong Kong and Macau with Singapore and Guam completing the Group F line up. Thailand, the only ASEAN member to have won the AFC U16 crown will be against Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and the two Koreas in Group G. Indonesia and Philippines will have to be at their best against a determined Japanese side eager for their AFC U16 title where they will also do battle against Mongolia, Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh in Group E of the qualifiers. Only the group winner and runner-up of each of the seven six-team groups as well as the best third-place side overall will advance to the 2010 AFC U16 Championship finals. AFC U16 CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 QUALIFIERS Group A: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan. Group B: Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon, Nepal, Tajikistan, Maldives. Group C: Syria, Yemen, Qatar, Palestine, Iraq, Bhutan. Group D: UAE, India, Turkmenistan, Oman, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan. Group E: Japan, Indonesia, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh, Philippines. Group F: China, Singapore, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Timor Leste. Group G: Korea Republic, Thailand, Vietnam, DPR Korea, Cambodia, Myanmar. Group H: Australia, Malaysia, Laos. SOURCE: ASEANFOOTBALL.ORG