THE press conference for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group B, hosted by Myanmar, was held at the Thuwunna Stadium press room on 2 September. Head coaches and players from Myanmar, Japan, Kuwait and Afghanistan attended the briefing.
Myanmar head coach Kurozaki said, “In the opening match against Kuwait, we will prepare to secure a good result. Although we have some injured players, I believe the team can still perform at their best. This tournament is also good preparation for the coming SEA Games, so we will focus on each match and aim to deliver results that please our fans.”
Myanmar captain Akar Kyaw remarked, “The match against Kuwait is very important because it is the opening game. We will give our best performance and approach each match with full concentration to secure qualification.”
Kuwait head coach Dario said, “I am satisfied with our preparations. Before this tournament, we played many friendly matches against different teams. Myanmar is a strong side, and we studied their performances at the ASEAN Championships. Our first step is against Myanmar, and it is a very important match. We will respect every opponent.”
Japan head coach Oiwa explained, “All the teams in this group are strong, so every match will be difficult. Our youngest player is 18 years old, but we also brought experienced and talented players. We are determined to prepare well and aim for qualification”.
Afghanistan head coach Manucha said, “We had three months to prepare. The opponents are strong, so it will not be easy, but we will give our best effort. Our first match is against Japan, and we will play to achieve a good result”.
The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group B will be staged at Thuwunna Stadium from 3 to 9 September. The group features host Myanmar, Japan, Kuwait and Afghanistan.
On the opening day today, Myanmar will play Kuwait at 4 pm, followed by Japan against Afghanistan at 7 pm. Myanmar head coach Kurozaki also released the final squad list on 2 September, confirming that injured players Zaw Win Thein and Okka Naing would not be included. — Ko Nyi Lay/KZL
