Bahrain U23 Squad Announced for 2025 WAFF Championship Campaign
Bahrain's under-23 football team has named its squad for the upcoming 2025 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U23 Championship, and there's a palpable sense of excitement as these young players prepare to take on the region's best. The tournament is set to take place in Muscat, Oman from March 19-25.
Facing a Tough Road Ahead
The sixth edition of the WAFF U23 Championship will feature eight teams, including regional heavyweights like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and hosts Oman, alongside Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. With a compact three-match-day format, every game is crucial. Bahrain, drawn into Group B, will kick off against the UAE on March 19. A win would send them to the semi-finals on March 22 to face the winner of the Oman-Saudi Arabia clash, with the final set for March 25. Classification matches will determine every ranking, ensuring a close fight for all spots, from bronze to eighth.
The Chosen Twenty
Head coach Hicham Dimai from Morocco has overseen local training sessions throughout early March, carefully selecting a 20-player squad from an initial 31-man group.
Ali Sayed
Abdullah Salah
Abdullah Ahmed
Ahmed Al-Saghir
Mohammed Yousef
Abdulrahman Al-Yahya
Ahmed Masoud
Abdulrahman Ahmed
Abdulwahaab Ahmed
Saeed Al-Sheikh
Abdulrazzaq Ahmed
Talal Al-Shuhaimi
Ahmed Yasser
Mohammed Abdulqader
Abdulrahman Al-Nasr
Ahmed Turki
Ahmed Al-Nahar
Abdulrahman Al-Kafti
Jassim Khalaf
Ahmed Al-Majed
Carrying Forward a Proud Legacy
Bahrain's under-23 team has a history in this competition, having competed in the inaugural 2015 edition in Qatar, where Iran claimed the title, and more recent tournaments like the 2023 event in Iraq, won by the hosts. Each experience has shaped this squad, fueling their hunger for success. They're also preparing for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in September, a key step toward the tournament in Saudi Arabia and a shot at Olympic qualification.
A Stage to Prove Themselves
For these young athletes, the championship is a chance to honor Bahrain's footballing spirit. The youngsters are set to make an impact in West Asia, one strong performance at a time.
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