Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 7, 2024: The Uzbekistan men’s U23 national football team was warmly welcomed at Tashkent International Airport on returning from the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, having qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The national team was given a heroes’ welcome and an open-top bus ride from the airport after qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time in history.
On hand to receive the team was Uzbekistan’s Minister of Sport, Adkham Ikramov, and other government officials, as well as representatives from Uzbekistan NOC, including Secretary General Oybek Kasimov, and the country’s Football Association.
The head of the Presidential Administration, Odil Abdurakhmanov, greeted the team with a congratulatory message from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The original congratulatory letter was then handed over to the head coach of the team, Timur Kapadze.
The head coach and captain Jasur Jaloliddinov expressed happiness at the successful campaign in Doha, where Uzbekistan reached the final to secure an Olympic berth. Japan defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 in the final.
Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq, winners of the third place play-off, will represent Asia at the Paris 2024 men’s football competition. Indonesia can make it a fourth Asian team at the Olympics if they defeat Guinea in a continental play-off on Thursday, May 9.
