Just days before the pivotal 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, Pakistan’s junior football team finds itself in disarray, as key members of the coaching and management staff remain unavailable—severely hampering the squad’s preparation.
According to Zeeshan Shafi, most of the coaching staff is currently absent, disrupting the team’s training and strategic planning.
Sources close to the camp have confirmed that Head Coach Akhtar Mohiyuddin has been unwell for the past week, leaving the young squad without its principal tactical guidance at a critical juncture. Meanwhile, Assistant Coach Mohsin is on academic leave to fulfill his PhD requirements—a justified decision, yet one that has further weakened the team’s on-ground structure.
Compounding the issue, Goalkeeping Coach Jaffer and Team Manager Hamdani are both engaged in Karachi with the Inter-Services Football Championship, overseeing the Army Team. Their absence has left the national U17 setup with limited technical support and leadership during a phase that demands cohesion and full attention.
The camp, reportedly entering its final preparation stage, now faces a serious coordination gap and potential conflict of interest within the management ranks. Without consistent oversight, training sessions have been disrupted—an issue that could prove costly in international competition.
Pakistan already faces a formidable challenge in Group B of the upcoming U17 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, where they will compete against Kyrgyzstan (hosts), Yemen, Laos, Cambodia, and Guam. With only group winners and the best second-placed teams advancing, every aspect of preparation carries weight. Observers within football circles have expressed concern that the current disorganization may adversely affect Pakistan’s performance.
With time running short and no clear indication of when the full coaching staff will reconvene, questions are mounting over whether the team can compete effectively on the continental stage.
For a side brimming with young, promising talent, the absence of leadership and stability threatens to undermine months of effort unless swift measures are taken to restore order and get things back on track.