The NMI U20 Men’s National Football Team showed technical improvement in their game despite suffering a 13-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates in the Asian Football Confederation U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers in Salmiya, Kuwait last Tuesday.
The Middle Eastern team was on full steam ahead against the island nation after a narrow one-point win over Lebanon.
The game continued to go back and forth, with no player yet gaining the upper hand, but NMI players kept up with the UAE in defence. Against another high-leverage team, NMI pushed the pitch to the max, with UAE’s Yousif Ahmed scoring in the 12th minute to keep the scoreboard at zero.
The UAE scored more goals from there, with Hazim Abbas putting them 2-0 up, before NMI kept it at two goals behind but Saif Al-Kabi found the opportunity to make it 3-0 30 seconds later.
The UAE began their goal spree in the second half, with Eid Mohammed Al Hammadi making it a fourth in the 36th minute and Abbas adding another goal a few minutes later to make the score 5-0.
The NMI goalkeeper had little time to breathe as Al Hammadi extended his lead to 6-0 after 40 minutes, before Ghaith Bader scored a seventh goal in first-half added time after NMI had tried in vain to push inside UAE territory.
The UAE were relentless against an NMI team that gave their all on the pitch, with three goals each from Obaid Salem, Ahmed Al Shamari and Saif Nasser sealing an even more emphatic 10-0 victory.
Nasser added another in the 90th minute to make it two goals, while Salem added his second in the 89th minute and completed his hat trick just three minutes later.
In the end, the UAE won 13-0, giving NMI their second consecutive loss.
In their debut match last Sunday, NMI lost 0-6 to hosts Kuwait.
NMI will face South Korea today before concluding their campaign against Lebanon on Saturday, September 28th.
Despite the tough matchup, team manager Mickey Vargas said the team made some progress: “The technical improvements we saw are something to be really proud of, especially against such a tough opponent. Defensively, we worked as a team, defending with numerical superiority when necessary and fighting to win ball clearances high up the field. Despite the pressure, there were also moments where the boys put pressure on their opponents and forced turnovers. They’ve grown from simply reacting to being proactive and wanting to win the ball and go on the attack straight away, which is a big step forward.”
She said the players have become more cohesive in attack and attack. “They were able to set up plays, make inroads into the opposition’s half and even had some close chances on goal that kept everyone on their toes,” she said. “The team has progressed from just clearing the ball to players who are working hard to make passes and stay in control. The players’ ability to keep their shape and remain calm under pressure, even when pressured by faster, more skilled teams, is a clear sign of their progress. They’re no longer just clearing the ball, they’re playing thoughtfully, which is a big improvement from when we started.”
Speaking about the match against South Korea, she said: “The players are well aware of the challenges ahead but with each match they are showing more tenacity and determination. The players have improved in all aspects of their game and are ready to give their all again.”
“As always, thank you all for your amazing support. The boys feel it with every message and word of encouragement and it pushes them beyond their limits,” she concluded.