Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has nominated Mohamed Waad (pictured) – the Qatar national team defender and Al Sadd member – for the Best Young Players Under-23 Award for 2020. In the final count, winners in four categories will be picked by 60% voters from the public while 40% will by football experts from Asia. Waad presented distinguished levels during the year 2020 to reserve his position in the starting line-up of Al Sadd and eventually seal his place in the Qatar national side. He made his Qatar debut with a match against Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifiers last year.
He also represented Al Sadd in their AFC Champions League matches. Waad said: “I am proud of my first official appearance for Qatar and Al Sadd. I thank everyone who supported me from my early years. I would like to also thank coach Felix Sanchez for showing confidence that he gave me to play in a new position.” He added: “I hope that I will meet the best expectations and present my for my club an country.”
The AFC’s shortlist for the top U-23 award includes Won Du-jae (23, Ulsan Hyundai FC/KOR), Bobir Abdikholikov (23, FC Nasaf/UZB), Kaoru Mitoma (22, Kawasaki Frontale/JPN), Abdullah Al Hamdan (22, Al Shabab/KSA), Takehiro Tomiyasu (22, Bologna/ JPN), Mehdi Ghayedi (22, Esteghlal/ IRN) and Mohanad Ali (20, Portimonense, Al Sailiya/IRQ).
