Seoul - Hwang Sun-hong, the head coach of the South Korean under-23 football team, has announced the successful negotiation for the participation of several Europe-based players in the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament. Despite potential last-minute changes from their clubs, this development boosts South Korea's chances in the crucial competition set to take place this April in Qatar.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup, starting April 15, serves as the Asian qualifier for this summer's Paris Olympics. With the tournament not aligning with the FIFA match calendar, there's no obligation for clubs to release players, posing a significant challenge for national teams. Nevertheless, Hwang has confirmed that a few European clubs have tentatively agreed to release their South Korean players for the qualifiers.
During a preparation phase, South Korea will participate in the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia from March 20-26, which will serve as a prelude to the AFC competition. Hwang revealed his 23-man squad for the WAFF tournament, including notable players like Brentford FC's Kim Ji-soo, Stoke City's Bae Jun-ho, and Celtic FC's Yang Hyun-jun, who are also expected to join the Olympic qualifiers.
While these agreements are a positive sign, Hwang cautioned that club decisions could change by April. The inclusion of these players is critical as South Korea faces strong opponents in Group B of the AFC competition, including Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and China, with potential quarterfinal matches against Qatar or Australia.
However, the news is less optimistic for Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain, who has not been released by his club for the April qualifiers. Hwang emphasized the importance of Lee's participation but acknowledged the constraints due to club commitments.
Amid these preparations, Hwang is also serving as the interim manager for South Korea's senior national team, adding complexity to his responsibilities. He expressed concerns about not attending the WAFF tournament due to overlapping World Cup qualifying matches but is committed to staying connected with his coaching team and providing guidance remotely.