FOR a first-timer, the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team will not have an easy time 2019 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.
Team manager Dan Palami said this after the Azkals got into a tough group again following a drawing of lots in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
“No easy group for a debutant in this competition. We will have to be in our best form and for this, the best preparation is needed,” said Palami in his online message to his followers on twitter.
The Philippines got bunched in Group C with tough teams like South Korea, China and Kyrgyzstan.
This will be their first time in the tournament set to be held from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1 in the United Arab Emirates next year.
The Azkals will meet South Korea first on Jan. 7 and then China on Jan. 11 before taking on Kyrgyzstan on Jan. 15.
During Friday’s drawing of lots at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, defending champion Australia found itself in Group B with Syria, Palestine and Jordan.
Top-ranked Iran heads Group D with teams like Iraq, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Then, there’s Saudi Arabia in Group E with Qatar, Lebanon, and Korea, while powerhouse Japan is with Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan in Group F.
Host United Arab Emirates, which will kick off the tournament against Bahrain, will also mix it up with Thailand and India in Group A.
The top two teams in each group, along with the four best 3rd placers, will advance to the knockout stage.
A total prize money of $50 million will be given away, including $5 million to the champion of the tournament featuring 24 teams.
Last March, the Azkals came off with an historic beating of Tajikistan, 2-1, in the qualifiers to book the country’s first-ever slot in the quadrennial meet.