Iraq attends Asia Cup of Nations organizing committee meetings

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq will participate in the meetings of the committee organizing the Asia Cup of Nations 2011 tournament, according to the chairman of the dissolved Iraqi Football Federation on Saturday. “Iraq will take part in the meetings, scheduled to be held in the Qatari capital Doha on Monday,” Hussein Saeed told IraqiNews.com news agency. He said Iraq would propose that the final draw, slated for next month, would be delayed to next April so as to have time the Iraqi football federation dissolution crisis is resolved. “The proposal would also aim to preserve Iraq’s rights to participate in the tournament now that Iraq is the title holder of the 2007 Asian championship,” said Saeed. On July 29, 2007, Iraq delivered an inspirational victory by winning the Asian Cup with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. Iraq scored on a 71st-minute header by captain Younis Mahmoud and dominated the final against heavily favored Saudi Arabia, a three-time Asian Cup champion. It was Iraq‘s first Asian Cup title. AmR (P)/SR 1