
AFC President Hails Saudi Organization of AFC U17 Asian Cup
President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and First Vice President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa praised the Kingdom's remarkable success in hosting the AFC U17 Asian Cup, which concluded on Sunday in Taif after three weeks of competition among 16 Asian national teams, SPA reported.
He stated that the Kingdom successfully provided the ideal environment to host the tournament and presented it in a way that befits the reputation and stature of Asian football, further proving the Kingdom's capability to host major sporting events to the highest organizational standards.
He also praised the exceptional roles played by various official entities in the Kingdom in creating the factors for the tournament's success, expressing his gratitude to Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
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