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AFC Olympic Qualifiers: Pakistan seek consolation win against Tajikistan

The Green Shirts lost their first two matches in the event

By Web Desk

April 11, 2023

The 22-member national team and coaching staff arrived in Tajikistan from Dubai, where the squad held a brief training camp and played matches against local clubs, on April 2 — PFF

The Pakistan women’s football team will look to secure a consolation win during the ongoing AFC Olympic Qualifiers as they face hosts Tajikistan at the Hisor Central Stadium on Tuesday.

Pakistan, who are already out of the race for the Paris Olympics 2024, lost their first match against the Philippines 4-0 before going down against Hong Kong 2-0 in their second encounter.

Meanwhile, it has also been a poor event for Tajikistan as they lost to Hong Kong 3-0 and were demolished by Philippines 8-0.

Pakistan are without the services of star striker Nadia Khan who was ruled out of the tournament due to an ACL injury.

Meanwhile, Maria Khan, who is leading the side, also missed the second match against Hong Kong due to injury.

The 22-member national team and coaching staff arrived in Tajikistan from Dubai, where the squad held a brief training camp and played matches against local clubs, on April 2.

A total of 26 teams have been divided in seven groups for the first round of the qualifying.

It must be noted that the winners of each group in this round will advance to the second round, where they will be joined by the five highest seeded teams — DPR Korea, Japan, Australia, China PR, and Korea Republic.

Four teams from the second round — three group winners and the best-ranked runners-up — then face off in the third round where they play two pairs of home and away matches with the two eventual winners qualifying for the Women’s Olympic football tournament in Paris in 2024.

In January earlier this year, Pakistan finished second in the four-nation cup in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan won their match opening match against Comoros, 1-0, but they suffered defeat in their second encounter against Mauritius 2-1. Their final match against the home side Saudi Arabia ended in a 1-1 draw.