Abdul-Ghani Shahad, manager of Iraq’s Olympic side, has announced the 20-man squad for the upcoming Asian Games Football Tournament that will take place from 14 August to 1 September. The squad includes three players over the age of 23, while the rest of the players are 23 years old or under, as per the competition’s rules.
The three overage players are 27 year-old goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, 24 year-old centre-back Saad Natiq and 30 year-old left-back Hussam Kadhim. The squad also includes exciting young strikers Mohanad Ali and Mohammed Dawood, while the ever-present Humam Tariq retains his place from the 2014 squad. Senior team regulars Alaa Mhawi and Amjad Attwan also feature, as does striker Alaa Abbas who has been scoring for fun at times for Naft Al-Wasat in the domestic league this season.
Iraq achieved success in both of their most recent Asian Games participations, earning the silver medal in 2006 and the bronze medal in 2014. The draw for the group stage of the 32-team tournament will take place on 15 July 2018.
Goalkeepers:
Jalal Hassan (Al-Zawraa)
Ali Kadhim (Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya)
Mahdi Hashim (Al-Samawa)
Defenders:
Mohammed Abdul-Karim (Al-Zawraa)
Saad Natiq (Al-Arabi, Qatar)
Raad Fanar (Al-Naft)
Ahmed Abdul-Ridha (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya)
Hussam Kadhim (Al-Shorta)
Mustafa Mohammed Maan (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya)
Mustafa Mohammed Jabir (Al-Zawraa)
Alaa Mhawi (Al-Shorta)
Midfielders:
Safaa Hadi (Al-Zawraa)
Amjad Attwan (Al-Najaf)
Jassim Mohammed (Amanat Baghdad)
Mazin Fayyadh (Al-Naft)
Humam Tariq (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya)
Karrar Nabil (Al-Najaf)
Attackers:
Mohammed Dawood (Al-Naft)
Alaa Abbas (Naft Al-Wasat)
Mohanad Ali (Al-Shorta)
