The technical staff of the national Olympic team, led by Italian coach Luigi Di Biagio, announced the exclusion of player Mohamed Abdelrahman from the official squad that will face Vietnam in the upcoming match. This decision was based on medical reports confirming that the player suffered a torn calf muscle, an injury he sustained during the national team's tough match against Jordan in the previous round.
Details of preparations for the match against Vietnam
The Saudi Arabia U-23 national team is preparing for a crucial match tomorrow, Monday, in the third round of the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship, a tournament that runs until January 24th. The Green Falcons will host Vietnam at 7:30 PM at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, amidst great anticipation from fans eager to support the team in their continental campaign.
On the field and technical front, the Saudi national team players continued their intensive preparations, holding their training session this evening at the King Abdullah Sports City training grounds. The training took place under the direct supervision of Italian coach Luigi Di Biagio and his assistant coaching staff. The session began with fitness exercises to improve physical conditioning, followed by the implementation of various tactical and technical drills aimed at exploiting the opponent's weaknesses. The training concluded with a full-field scrimmage to assess the final readiness of the available players.
The importance of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup and the Saudi national team's path
The AFC U-23 Asian Cup holds immense importance in Asia, as the competition extends beyond simply winning the title; it serves as a primary gateway for discovering young talents who will bolster the senior national teams in the near future. The Saudi national team consistently strives to reaffirm its continental dominance at the youth level, building upon the successes achieved by Saudi football in recent years, which reflect the significant development in sports infrastructure and the focus on youth development.
Group 1 accounts
The Saudi national team is competing in this tournament in the tough Group A, which also includes Vietnam, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan. The match against Vietnam is considered pivotal in determining the group's dynamics and securing a place in the knockout stages. The Saudi Olympic team enjoys the advantage of playing on home soil, as the tournament is being held in the Kingdom, providing an added incentive for the players to perform at their best and compensate for any absences in the squad, including the significant absence of Mohammed Abdulrahman.
