A header by substitute Aymen Hussein four minutes into the second-half of extra-time proved decisive at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.

Ahmed Alaa had given Qatar the lead in the 27th minute but an equaliser four minutes from the end by Muhanad Abdulraheem took the game into 30 additional minutes during which the towering Hussein nodded the ball home to earn Iraq a place at the Olympics for the first time since Athens 2004.

They joined Japan and South Korea, who had already ensured their Olympic tickets by reaching tomorrow’s final, as the AFC’s representatives at Rio 2016 in August.

"I would like to congratulate Japan, Korea Republic and Iraq for their brilliant performances at the AFC Under-23 Championship and for qualifying for the Olympic Games," AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa said.

"Representing Asia is a privilege and a responsibility and I am sure these teams will make the continent proud.

"The quality of play with high-paced matches and some spectacular goals at the Under 23 tournament in Qatar showed again the promise of Asian success on the international stage.

"We can expect more proud moments for Asian football in Rio, and beyond."

In the semi-finals on Tuesday (January 26), South Korea beat Qatar 3-1, while Japan edged Iraq 2-1 thanks to a last-gasp winner.

Both finalists qualified for the semi-finals of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, with South Korea going on to win the bronze medal. 

"I’m looking forward to the final against Korea Republic," said Japan coach Makoto Teguramori, who will be without strikers Takumi Minamino and Musashi Suzuki for the showdown at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. 

"Both teams are strong, both are from east Asia, both will play in the final and both have been Asian football leaders for many years.

"Tomorrow’s game will be hard because both teams have been seeking to play at a world-class level.

"At the last Olympic Games both nations went to the last four while at the last World Cup in Brazil, both nations were knocked out in the group stages, so we and Korea Republic will try to improve the level of Asian football."

The Rio 2016 Olympic football tournament is due to begin on August 4, with the final taking place on August 20.

Fifteen of the 16 places available have now been filled with Colombia and the United States set to meet in a two-legged CONCACAF-CONMEBOL play-off in March for the final spot.

Brazil have already qualified as hosts along with Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Fiji, Honduras, Mexico, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and the three Asian representatives.