Qualifying will not be easy, say UAE

Abu Dhabi: The UAE have warned that qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup will not be easy despite a favourable draw.

They will kick-off their qualification campaign on January 14 when they face Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in the opener of Group C.

The favourites Uzbekistan will play host to India on the same day in Group C's other match.

Whoever finishes in the top two places of the group will win through to the finals to be held in Qatar in 2011.

Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, the Chairman of the UAE Football Association, said: "The group might seem easy for the UAE and Uzbekistan but if everyone believed that the task will be easy, they have to think again."

Speaking after the draw in Doha on Thursday, he added: "India and Malaysia have improved greatly and we have to be at our very best to win a seat in the finals. We can not take the two teams for granted."

The UAE lost to India in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup in Bangalore but beat them in Al Ain in the return leg.

"We have to benefit from the lessons of the game. Only last month we lost to Syria at home despite the fact that we forced them to settle for a tie in Damascus. Being the favourites to win the home match did not help us and we lost.

"I know that the UAE and Uzbekistan are favourites to win the two seats.

"But we should not be over confident."