Azkals face North Korea in Challenge Cup

Source | abs-cbnNEWS.com | MANILA, Philippines – It will be a tough ball game for the Philippine Azkals in next year’s ASEAN Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup.

The Azkals have been drawn with defending champion North Korea in Group B.

North Korea (Korea DPR) is ranked No. 110 in the FIFA World Ranking.The Philippines, meanwhile, is No. 159. The remaining teams in Group B are also strong AFC contenders.

Tajikistan was the inaugural Challenge Cup champion in 2006, while India was the 2008 Challenge Cup titleholder.

Evaluate

Azkals coach Michael Weiss earlier said he will use the Azkals' match against LA Galaxy to evaluate the players who may participate in the Challenge Cup.

"This game is a test on a comparatively high level. We can see the Younghusbands (Phil and James) and the defenders who are coming in new, how they will perform at this level," Weiss said.

"I expect the players to show who is ready for the Challenge Cup next year," he added.

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