Mongolia Looks to Clinch 2020 Under-23 Qualification at Home
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This Friday Mongolia kicks off its qualifying campaign for the 2020 AFC Under-23 Championship. Mongolia who will continue its recent trend of hosting important matches has been drawn into Group G alongside North Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The team will kick off its first match at the MFF Football Stadium on 22 March against the arguable group favorites North Korea before taking on Hong Kong and Singapore with two days between matches.
Senior national team head coach Michael Weiss will also be at the helm of the under-23 side for the second straight tournament. Last time around, the team earned a 1-1 draw with Thailand that was marred by weather conditions before being easily swept aside by Indonesia and Malaysia.
The players called to Mongolia's 23-man roster are:
GK
#1 Sanchir Anand
#12 Arvinbat Mendbayar
#21 Enkhbaatar Yeruult
DF
#5 Henchyachav Enkhzorig
#15 Purevsuren Enkhbayar
#13 Chunchignorov Shinezuun
#4 Otgonbaatar Odbayar
#5 Kench-Yahav Enkhzorig
#3 Bat-Edene Uugbat
#20 Purevdorj Bayartsegel
#22 Amaara Dulguun
MF
#6 Narmandakh Artag
#16 Batmunkh Baljinnyam
#19 Altansükh Temüüjin
#8 Gantogtok Gantuya
#17 Temuulen Dugeree
#18 Bat-Orgil Gerelt-Og
FW
#24 Batbold Baljinnyam
#9 Maratkhan Janserik
#23 Khash-Erdene Tuya
#7 Ganbold Ganbayar
Mongolia's squad contains a high number of players who are already senior internationals, including 3 of the four forwards. The fourth attacking player is young Ganbold Ganbayar who has been making waves (and history) with Hungary's Pushkas Akademia. Batbold Bajinnyam and Maratkhan Janserik have five senior goals between them following a successful run in EAFF Championship qualification in late 2018. With the senior squad very likely kicking off its 2022 World Cup qualification in Round 1 in early June 2019 and no senior matches scheduled in preparation, Weiss will likely use this tournament at least in part to get ready for that home-and-away series.
A newcomer to Mongolian squads and a surprise addition is 17-year-old goalkeeper Sanchir Anand who is currently with Richmond Hill Soccer Club of Canada's Ontario Player Development League. A full article on the player will follow.
With a proven attacking core, it will be up to a relatively inexperienced defense to push Mongolia past the group stage. Should Mongolia top its group (or potentially with a strong second place showing), the team will qualify for the final tournament in Thailand in January 2020.