Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq are all determined to produce a medal finish and the-AFC.com takes a look at the players who will be pivotal to their chances.

Joel Chima Fujita (Japan)
After playing a starring role in Japan’s title win at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™, Joel Chima Fujita now takes on a bigger responsibility in trying to help the East Asian side add to the bronze medal won in the 1968 Olympics.
Heartbreaking fourth place finishes were achieved in 2012 and 2020 and Japan’s task in Paris won’t be easy with Paraguay, Mali and Israel their opponents in Group D.

A fulcrum of the side in a box-to-box role, the Sint-Truiden VV player is the commander on the pitch and dictates the pace of the game for Go Oiwa’s side, demonstrating his technical abilities with good awareness of his surroundings.

Given that Japan are not bringing any overage players to the tournament, Fujita’s European experience in Belgium’s top tier will be crucial for the young Blue Samurai to advance far at Paris 2024.
Ali Jasim (Iraq)
As one of the most talked about current stars of the Asian game, Ali Jasim will be looking to make a splash on a global stage when Iraq make their return to the Olympic Games after missing out on Tokyo 2020.

The precocious 20-year-old has already put in dominant performances at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ and AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024, grabbing three assists in the former while scoring four and assisting two in the latter which saw him winning the Top Goalscorer award.

A wide forward by trade, Jasim is brilliant in taking on his direct opponent as shown by his 11 successful dribbles in the AFC Asian Cup and and 16 in the AFC U23 Asian Cup, which was the tournament’s highest.

With Aymen Hussein included as one of the three overage players in the squad to share the attacking burden, the understanding built at club level with Jasim at Air Force Club means Iraq look well equipped to challenge for a spot in the knockout stage.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Uzbekistan)
Even at the age of 20, Abbosbek Fayzullaev has to carry the weight of the nation on his shoulders as Uzbekistan look to him to shine in their first appearance at the Olympics.

A standout performance in Uzbekistan’s AFC U20 Asian Cup 2023 triumph saw the diminutive creative midfielder not only being anointed the player of the tournament but also land him a move to Russian Premier League club, CSKA Moscow.

His steady rise continued with more sparkling performances for club and country, most notably in being part of the team that clinched Uzbekistan’s historic berth at the Olympics at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024.

Possessing silky skills, Fazyullaev is comfortable in central midfield as well as wider positions and he will be relied upon in Paris to supply the passes for Eldor Shomurodov, Oston Uronov and Khusain Norchaev when they lock horns with Spain, Egypt and Dominican Republic in Group C.