The Joeys will face Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia and China PR at the upcoming AFC Under-17 Asian Cup in Thailand.
Australia qualified for the tournament in October, and they discovered their Group C opponents for the Asian Cup, which is set to take place in Bangkok and Chonburi from June 15 to July 2.
Adelaide United sensation Nestory Irankunda, who was called up by the Socceroos for the recent international friendlies against Ecuador, was influential as the Joeys booked their spot in Shepparton, Victoria late last year.
READ: The historic Socceroos first that highlights one state’s incredible ‘talent pool’
That 30-man squad featured 25 players based in the Isuzu UTE A-League, while the Joeys’ roster for February’s Antalya Cup included 19 players from the A-Leagues.
“We’ve been drawn in a challenging and diverse group, with each team presenting stern opposition,” said head coach Brad Maloney following the draw.
“We played China PR during last year’s qualifiers and know what a quality side they are, and both Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan are formidable teams, so three tough matches lie ahead.
“Knowing our group stage opponents and host venue will enable us to commence detailed preparation for the tournament, where we will need to be at our best from the opening match to ensure we progress out of the group, as we eye a semi-final place and automatic qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
“We have a talented age group, and the U-17 Asian Cup presents a wonderful opportunity for the final team to experience international football at a very high level, as they start out on what we hope are long careers in the green and gold jersey.”
Image Source: Football Victoria
