Qatar Football AssociationNews
27.12.2015 15:29 in :

DOHA: Qatar Football Association (QFA) on Sunday unveiled the mascot
of the AFC U23 Championship, saying the country is looking forward to
welcoming the teams next month.

One of key events on the AFC calendar, the AFC U23 Championship will
be held across Qatar from Jan 12 to 30.

The event will be held at four venues namely Abdullah bin Khalifa
Stadium, Grand Hamad Stadium, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium and Qatar
Sports Club Stadium.

“This will be the third biggest football event on Qatari soil. We will
be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. QFA hosted the 2011 Asian Cup
four years ago,” Mansour Al Ansari, Secretary General, QFA, said on
Sunday.

The Jan 12-30 holds great significance for the participating teams as
the top three sides in Doha will get 2016 Olympic Games berths, Al
Ansari said at a special ceremony held at Lekhwiya Stadium.

“Qatar will be playing the opening match of the tournament against
China here at Lekhwiya Stadium on January 12,” Al Ansari said.

“This event has huge following across Asia as youngsters playing for
their national sides can go on to represent their senior national
sides,” he said.

“We are ready to welcome the teams,” Al Ansari said on Sunday.

The event mascot – Nagim – was unveiled on the pitch at Lekhwiya
Stadium, one of top football venues in Qatar.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by Hani Ballan, CEO of Qatar Stars
League (QSL), Al Ansair, Ahmed Al-Harami, COO of the organizing
committee, and Khalifa Al Haroon Marketing Director at QSL, among a
host of other football officials.

According to details, the mascot depicts a young fox sporting football
attire. The mascot also ‘depicts intelligence, speed, and power that
of a young football player’.