Malaysia aims for the semi-finals of the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Championship.

VnExpress•01/04/2024

Malaysia, Vietnam's opponent in Group D of the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Championship, aims to reach the semi-finals to compete for a spot in the Olympics.

Malaysian U23 players celebrate their 2-1 victory over India U23 in a friendly match on March 22. Photo: FAM

According to the regulations, the top three teams in the AFC U23 Asian Championship will qualify directly for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The fourth-placed team will play a play-off match against the fourth-placed team in the AFC U23 African Championship to compete for the remaining spot.

"I believe Malaysia, under the leadership of coach Juan Garrido, can make history," Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President Datuk Hamidin Amin told the New Straits Times.

In the past, Malaysia has participated in the AFC U23 Asian Championship finals twice, with their best performance being reaching the quarter-finals in 2018. In 2022, the team was eliminated in the group stage with three consecutive losses, including a 0-2 defeat against Vietnam.

This time, FAM prepared more thoroughly for the national team with many international friendly matches. In March, Malaysia played India twice, winning 2-1 and drawing 1-1 respectively. On April 1st, the 26-player team arrived in Qatar, half a month early, to acclimatize to the weather before playing two more friendly matches against the host team and China.

Coach Juan Garrido is missing four key players due to injury: goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim, two defenders Azam Azmi and Ruventhiran, and midfielder Richard Chin. Azam Azmi is an irreplaceable pillar in the center of the defense, so the Spanish coach hopes others will step up to fill the void. Additionally, striker Arif Aiman Hanapi is also unavailable as his club, Shimizu S-Pulse in J-League 2, has refused to release him.

The Malaysian squad also includes several notable names who have been called up to the national team, such as defender Harith Haiqal, midfielders Mukhairi Ajmal and Nooa Laine. Two other noteworthy players are striker Luqman Hakim, currently playing in J-League 3 for Yokohama SCC, and midfielder Annil Vigneswaran, playing in the German Third Division for Waldhof Mannheim.

Coach Juan Garrido of the Malaysia U23 team. Photo: FAM

Garrido also wants the players to face the challenges ahead, including the hot weather in the Middle East and criticism from fans. "The coaching staff will protect the players, but they also need to overcome the difficulties themselves," said the Malaysia U23 head coach. "If they can't, they can't become professional players."

Malaysia will play their opening match against Uzbekistan on April 17th, followed by matches against Vietnam on April 20th and Kuwait on April 23rd. Defending runners-up Uzbekistan are considered the strongest team in the group and have secured a place in the quarter-finals. The chances of securing the second qualifying spot are evenly distributed among the remaining three teams.

The 2024 AFC U23 Championship finals will take place from April 15th to May 3rd. Sixteen teams will be divided into four groups, playing a round-robin format, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Since its inaugural tournament in 2013, five teams have been crowned champions: Iraq, Japan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.

Malaysia U23 Football Team Roster

Goalkeepers (3): Syahmi Adib Haikal (Selangor), Azim Al-Amin (Selangor), Sheikh Izhan (Penang)

Defenders (7): Harith Haiqal, Zikri Khalili, Muhammad Abu Khalil (Selangor), Safwan Mazlan (Terengganu), Faris Rifqi, Ubaidullah Shamsul (Terengganu II), Aiman Yusni (Perak)

Midfielders (11): Syahir Bashah, Mukhairi Ajmal, Nooa Laine, Aliff Izwan (Selangor), Saiful Jamaluddin (Sri Pahang), Umar Hakeem, Fergus Tierney (Johor Darul Ta'zim II), Aiman Afif (Kedah Darul Aman), Firdaus Fuad (Perak), Daryl Sham (Johor Darul Ta'zim), Annil Vigneswaran (Waldhof Mannheim)

Forwards (5): Thirumurugan Saravanan (Sri Pahang), Luqman Hakim (Yokohama SCC), Alif Ikmalrizal (Penang), Najmudin Akmal (Johor Darul Ta'zim II), Haqimi Azim (Kuala Lumpur City).

Hieu Luong

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