The Olympic football team has included several skilled Kurdish players from Erbil, Duhok, and abroad in its latest squad. This strong selection comes as the team prepares for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers next month. These qualifiers will be a vital step toward securing a spot in the next Olympic Games.
Coach Imad Mohammed has chosen to begin training in the capital before moving the camp to Malaysia. This plan aims to give the players both local and international preparation time. The intensive sessions will focus on building team chemistry and improving match readiness.
From Duhok, the team will feature Josef Imam, Mustafa Nawaf, and Hassan Emad. Meanwhile, Erbil club will contribute Mustafa Qabil and Zulfiqar Younis. Zakho club’s goalkeeper Imran Zaki, now with Mosul, also joins the group. In addition, Newroz SC’s goalkeeper Reza Abdulaziz, who moved from Najaf this summer, will strengthen the defense.
The squad also gains an international edge with Kurdish professional player Botan Amin from Swindon Town in England. His presence will bring valuable overseas experience to the group. With such a mix of local and global talent, the team hopes to deliver a strong performance in the qualifiers and move closer to Olympic participation.