Azerbaijan U-16 national team aims for championship at CIS Games

The goal of the Azerbaijan U-16 national football team at the III CIS Games is the championship.

This was stated by the head coach of the team, Aqil Nabiyev, in an interview with "Report".

The specialist emphasized that they are experiencing difficulties with the physical condition of the team:

"We have goals in the III CIS Games, in which we are participating for the first time. We will play in Azerbaijan and we want to become champions and make our nation happy. Of course, this is difficult. Our selection of players for the national team is not wide. We have also invited several people from the lower age group. Our biggest problem is the physical condition of the players. Some players joined the training late. For example, although we won a friendly match with Georgia, I was not satisfied with the team. Because they were tired after 35 minutes. Leagues have just started in our country. In other countries, championships have been going on for months. Despite this, we are trying to do something. Tomorrow we will complete the training in Baku and leave for Gabala. We will play our first match on September 27. We are looking for more information about the opponent. Most likely, they work with the same system. I hope that we will win the first game. Because the teams that take the first place in the group will play directly in the final. Both groups are interesting. I hope we will be the ones celebrating in the end."

A. Nabiyev said that they could not collect extensive information about the teams from Asia:

"Of course, we have been working on this for a while. We have tried to collect extensive information about the other five teams. But unfortunately, we could not get any materials about the teams from Asia. Previously, our other age groups played against Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan. Their best qualities are their physical fitness, as well as their fighting spirit, character, and determination. Of course, there are difficult opponents in both groups. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have invested in football in recent years. They have invited specialists and coordinators to various age groups and want to develop."

It should be noted that within the framework of the III CIS Games, the Azerbaijan U-16 national team will face the national teams of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Group A.

6 teams will compete in two groups in the tournament, which will be held at the Gabala City Stadium. The group winners will determine the champion in the final. The teams that take the second place in the groups will face each other in the match for the 3rd place, and the third-place teams will face each other in the match for the 5th place.