Today, footballers of the Turkmenistan national team departed from Ashgabat International Airport, transiting through Dashoguz – Urgench – Tashkent – Bishkek, for the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Championship among youth teams (under 20), which will be held from July 5 to 12 in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan.
Six teams will participate in the tournament, divided into 2 groups.
Turkmenistan, along with teams from Iran and Uzbekistan, form group "B". Group "A" will include youth teams from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.
For the CAFA-2024 championship, Dovletmyrat Annayev, head coach of Turkmenistan U20 national team, invited 23 footballers from 7 clubs of the country who play in the national youth championship. The team includes:
Goalkeepers: Seyran Ashyrov ("Akhal"), Davut Davatov ("Ashgabat"), Ismail Gulov ("Energetik")
Defenders: Beglimukhamet Bekmyradov, Mekan Mukhammedov, Gurbangeldi Garajayev, Maksat Ilmyradov (all from "Akhal"), Khangeldi Berdiyev, Orazmyrat Nepesov (both from "Arkadag"), Ismail Kambarov ("Altyn Asyr")
Midfielders: Yakubmukhamet Govshudov, Ibrahim Amangeldiyev, Begench Agajumayev (all from "Akhal"), Magtymguly Papyev ("Arkadag"), Hajymukhamet Orazov (Kopetdag), Gurbanguly Garayev ("Shagadam"), Ali Zulfakar ("Navbahor", Uzbekistan)
Forwards: Gurban Esenov, Medet Gayypnazarov, Islam Annamyradov (all from "Akhal"), Enver Annayev, Eduard Sarkisyan (both from "Arkadag"), and Magtymberdi Berenov ("Nebitchi").
As part of the preparation for the CAFA-2024 championship, Turkmenistan U20 national team played three friendly matches. In the first one, Dovletmyrat Annayev's team won 2-0 away against the reserve squad of the country's champion, "Arkadag-2". Magtymberdi Berenov scored the first goal directly from a free kick, while Islam Annamyradov netted the second from open play.
The youth team played two other friendly games at the Nisa stadium against "Ashgabat". In the first match, they led 2-0 at halftime thanks to goals from Enver Annayev and Begench Agajumayev, but ended up drawing 2-2. In the second game, they won 1-0 with Gurbangeldi Garajayev scoring the winning goal.
Turkmenistan U20 national team's participation in the CAFA-2024 championship is considered as preparation for the 2025 Asian Cup qualifying round among youth teams. The qualification tournament for Turkmen footballers, whose opponents in group "I" will be teams from Japan, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar, will be held in one round from September 25 to 29 in Bishkek.
