Maui.NET and XCode validation

My application is developed on a Windows PC using Visual Studio 2022 (ver. 17.12.1) and .NET MAUI framework (ver. 9). After a successful build and testing using a virtual iPhone interface, Visual Studio connects remotely to the MacBook (Mac OS 15.1) sending the necessary project files to Xcode 16.1 targeting iOS version 18.

The files are sent to Xcode successfully. However, Xcode validation fails with 4 errors.  No matter what I change, the same errors persist. These validation errors are preventing me from deploying the code to TestFlight. Apple support refuses to help stating it is a problem with Visual Studio compilation of the package for Xcode.

While I am not 100% confident, I suspect that the entries in the  plist.info file contained within the project do not agree with where the files are physically located (even though they appear correct. However, I cannot see the key values in the plist file in the Xcode IPA package. I also notice that Maui opted to create entries in the plist.info file for “Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset”, but according to apple this is not how it should be done anymore.

Could anyone provide the specific changes in detail that need to happen to this project to have a successful XCode validation? I have been at this for two weeks with no solution in site. Below is a link to the referenced resources.  

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1leQVXD2TTdExr0SuyfbRIpME2KdUnWRl

Your help is greatly appreciated