On May 29, the Tajikistan team will gather in Dushanbe to warm up for the upcoming first Central Asian Nations Cup soccer tournament in Uzbekistan. Just the day before, the Tajikistan Football Association (TFA) unveiled its 26-man training squad. The CFA will also take this opportunity to dig deeper into the intelligence of their opponents.
China will be grouped with Qatar, Lebanon and Tajikistan in the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup, according to the draw. On January 13 next year, China will play Tajikistan for the first time. Shao Jiayi, the leader of the national soccer team, said bluntly that this group match is crucial.
The Chinese team began targeted preparations for the match as soon as the group results were announced. The Tajikistan Football Federation released a 26-man training roster with 11 star players from domestic league champions Istiklol and even more 11 players from overseas clubs, including four players from the Uzbekistan Premier League and one from the Iranian and Indian leagues, which can't be ignored for China.
Tajikistan's international competitiveness has benefited from the addition of overseas players. Last November they drew with Russia; this March they drew away to the UAE. 21 of the 21 players took part in the March tour of the UAE, with five new additions ranging from veterans to newcomers.
Tajikistan are scheduled to depart for Uzbekistan on May 31 in preparation for the Central Asian Nations Cup. The first match will be played in Turkmenistan on June 11, after which they will face Oman, followed by a challenge to hosts Uzbekistan. A top-two finish in the group stage will see Tajikistan progress to the June 20 qualifying round. The Chinese team will also be watching this crucial match closely.
