Hosts UAE name their 2019 AFC Asian Cup squad

Host nation United Arab Emirates (UAE) head coach Alberto Zaccheroni has announced his 23 player squad ahead of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

The UAE have been drawn to face Bahrain (January 5), India (January 10) and Thailand (January 14) in Group A of the tournament.

Zaccheroni will be missing talismanic playmaker Omar Abdulrahman due to an ACL injury, but otherwise the Italian coach has a settled squad at his disposal.

United Arab Emirates – Squad

Goalkeepers
Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Mohamed Al Shamsi (Al Wahda)

Defenders
Mohamed Ahmed (Al Ain), Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Al Jazira), Fares Juma (Al Jazira), Khalifa Mubarak (Al Nasr), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Walid Abbas (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai)

Midfielders
Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Amer Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Rayan Yaslam (Al Ain), Mohamed Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira), Majed Hassan (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Khamis Esmail (Al Wasl)

Forwards
Ali Mabkhout (Al Jazira), Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Saif Rashid (Sharjah), Ismail Matar (Al Wahda)