UAE boss Dr Abdullah Misfer has dismissed suggestions their AFC U-23 Championship hopes have been boosted by facing a fellow Arabic nation in Saturday night’s quarter-final against Iraq. Victory for the Whites is essential if they are to continue the quest to secure a top-three finish which will earn a berth at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

They come into the game as Group D winners after a helter-skelter 3-2 triumph on Wednesday against Vietnam. Their reward is to face the runners-up from Group C rather than hotly-tipped South Korea, but Dr Misfer was taking nothing for granted in Doha.

He said: “The fact both teams are in this stage shows that both are good and they qualified. This is a very important stage, it’s totally different because it’s only one game and the winner goes through to the semi-finals.

“We are staging an Arabic stage. We will play our game, we are brothers but each team will do their best in order to qualify. I don’t think it will be easier to play an Arabic team than an Asian team.”

Iraq were undefeated during the opening stage, finishing second to the Taeguk Warriors on goal difference. Coach Shahad Abdulghani was full of confidence. He said: “We’re ready for the game against our brothers from the UAE. It’s the qualifying stage and the loser will leave, so we have to prepare all our plans.”

The UAE come into the match with a depleted squad after midfielders Ahmed Barman, Salem Ali and Saif Rashid all came off injured within the first 30 minutes of the Vietnam clash.

“We will try to put on a good performance,” Misfer insisted. “Five players is important, it’s almost 50 per cent of the team, but we will try to do our best.”