The best naturalized star was eliminated.

The list of 23 Cambodian national team players who will travel to Binh Duong to prepare for the match against the Vietnamese national team at 7:30 PM on March 19th at Go Dau Stadium includes 5 naturalized foreign players and 18 local players.

The Cambodian national team's naturalized foreign players include striker Nieto Rondon (of Colombian origin), defenders Takaki Ose and Yudai Ogawa from Japan, striker Coulibaly Abdel Kader from Ivory Coast, and defender Kanh Mo from South Africa. These players performed exceptionally well at the 2024 AFF Cup.

Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that three other naturalized players, Hikaru Mizuno (Japan, currently playing for Kirivong Sok Sen Chey in the Cambodian Premier League), Privat Mbarga (Cameroon, currently playing for Bali United in Indonesia), and Zogbe Vireak (Ivory Coast, currently playing for Police Tero FC in Thailand's Thai League 2), were not called up for the upcoming tournament.

"Among the Cambodian native players called up, the majority have experience playing for the national team in the recent AFF Cup. However, goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy and players Min Ratanak, Sa Ty, Orn Chanpolin, In Sodavid, Yeu Muslim, Seut Baraing, Leng Nora and Kim Sokyuth were not included in the squad."

Replacing them are goalkeeper Keo Soksela, players Ouk Sovann, Phat Sokha, Chou Sinti, Sin Sovann Makara and rising young star Bong Samuel. The selected players are expected to receive intensive training from coach Koji Gyotoku to improve their defensive capabilities and strengthen the midfield and attack of the team. This is because the Cambodian national team is about to face the very strong Vietnamese national team, the reigning AFF Cup champions," The Phnom Penh Post stated.

The Vietnamese national team will play their first official match since winning the 2024 AFF Cup, against the Cambodian national team.

Meanwhile, for coach Koji Gyotoku, the match against the Vietnamese national team marks the official debut of the 60-year-old Japanese coach, after he recently signed a one-year contract to lead the Cambodian national team and the U.23 and U.22 teams for the SEA Games 33 in Thailand later this year. Previously, he was only an interim coach with a record of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses in 7 matches.

After their match against Vietnam in Binh Duong, the Cambodian team returned to Phnom Penh to prepare for another friendly match against the Aruba team from the Caribbean Football Federation (CFU) on March 25th.

For the Vietnamese national team, the match against Cambodia is part of their preparation and warm-up for the upcoming match against Laos (also in Binh Duong), which will take place at 7:30 PM on March 25th, marking the opening of the 3rd round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/campuchia-goi-5-ngoai-binh-dau-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-sao-nhap-tich-tot-nhat-bi-loai-185250312102915704.htm