From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif
BANGKOK, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The National Under-23 squad are likely to lose two key players ahead of their decisive match against Vietnam in their final Group B match of the men's football competition at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games here.
Harimau Muda head coach Mohd Nafuzi Zain announced that striker Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli is on bereavement leave from the team to attend to the funeral of his stepfather Shahrol Asikin Mohd Shariff who passed away this morning.
In addition, he said midfielder Ahmad Haziq Kutty Abba, who stood out when helping Malaysia defeat Laos 4-1 last Saturday, suffered a groin injury and will almost certainly not be available for the remainder of the campaign.
"We have good and bad news for the team, this morning we received news that Haqimi's father has passed away and we also lost Haziq Kutty who suffered an injury and will miss the rest of the games.
"As for Haqimi's situation, we will review whether he can return to the team. But for the team and I, we really need Haqimi's services to face Vietnam," he said at the team's hotel here today.
However, Mohd Nafuzi can still breathe a sigh of relief as Selangor FC striker Muhammad Alif Izwan Yuslan will join the team this evening after receiving permission from his club, in addition to defender Muhammad Aiman Yusuf Muhammad Nabil who has just recovered from injury.
"Although some have left, some have returned, our team's line-up of players is still not enough (23 players) but we accept this challenge and continue to focus on facing Vietnam in the mission to the semi-finals," said the former Kedah Darul Aman FC and Terengganu FC coach.
Commenting on the clash against Vietnam, Mohd Nafuzi said the team had made thorough preparations to face the might of Vietnam as one of the favourite teams.
"We will play to win (against Vietnam), to get three points and most importantly we will not lose," said Mohd Nafuzi.
The Harimau Muda squad are scheduled to play Vietnam at the Rajamangala National Stadium here on Thursday, with the result of a draw being enough to ensure that Nafuzi's men advance to the semi-finals as Group B champions.
Malaysia and Vietnam are now sharing three points in the top two positions of the group, separated by goal difference, while Laos are at the bottom with no points.
For the record, Malaysia were eliminated early in the group stage in the 2023 SEA Games edition in Cambodia, after losing in the bronze medal match in the 2021 edition in Hanoi. The last time the national squad stood on the podium was when they won the silver medal in the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
-- BERNAMA
