Abdul Aziz answers UAE call after Ahmad sidelined

Abu Dhabi: UAE's head coach Bruno Metsu has invited Al Ahli defender Adil Abdul Aziz to join the national team training camp after it was confirmed Al Nasr's Darwish Ahmad will miss the rest of the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 South African World Cup through injury.

The UAE started their training camp in Al Ain on Monday and will leave to for Tehran on Saturday for their match against Iran two days later at the Azadi Stadium.

The UAE lead Group 5 with 4 points from two matches after victory over Kuwait and a tie with Syria. Iran and Syria have two points and Kuwait have one.

Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, the Chairman of the UAE FA, will head the delegation to Tehran, only days after he won the Presidency of the FA.

Meanwhile, striker Mohammad Al Shehhi and defender Obaid Khalifa will both miss the match against Iran but will be ready to meet Syria and Kuwait.

The UAE will face Iran away on June 2 before hosting them in Al Ain on June 7. They will then travel to Kuwait on June 14 and end their campaign hosting Syria in Al Ain on June 22.

The top two teams of the group will qualify for the second round.