Football: Oman, Iran placed in same group in AFC U23 Championship qualifiers

Muscat: Oman are placed in a relatively easy group in the AFC U-23 Championship qualifying rounds.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conducted the draw for the 2018 championship, to be organised in China, at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Though clubbed with Iran, Oman’s Group A looks relatively easy as it also comprises hosts Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka.
According to the news posted on the AFC website, the ten group winners and five best second-placed teams among all the groups will advance to the finals.
The qualifiers will take place from July 19 to 23, 2017. On the first matchday, Oman take on hosts Kyrgyzstan.
While Group A qualifiers will take place in Kyrgyzstan, the other qualifiers will take place in the respective host countries - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Myanmar, North Korea, Thailand and China.
Meanwhile, the AFC informed China, although directly qualified as the finals host, have expressed interest to participate in the qualifying stage. And if China finish top of their group or finish among the five best second-placed teams, the next (sixth) second-placed team will qualify to the final stage of the competition in January, 2018.
Groups:
Group A : Iran, Oman, Gyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka.
Group B: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain.
Group C: Qatar, Syria, India, Turkmenistan
Group D: UAE, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Nepal
Group E: Jordan, Tajikistan, Palestine, Bangladesh
Group F: Australia, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam
Group G: North Korea, Laos, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong.
Group H: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia
Group I: South Korea, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Macau
Group J: Japan, China, Cambodia, Philippines