Malaysia U23 head coach Nafuzi Zain has urged his players to bounce back strongly and sharpen their finishing as they prepare to face Mongolia in their second Group F match of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers at Thammasat Stadium.
Malaysia opened their campaign with a disappointing 0-1 defeat to Lebanon, a result Nafuzi admitted was difficult to accept given his side’s overall performance.
“In terms of mood, the players look slightly better now, but of course, the disappointment is still there. From the way we played against Lebanon, I feel we should not have lost. That one result has a big impact on our chances of progressing, but we must rise again, especially with big matches ahead,” said Nafuzi.
The coach highlighted that Malaysia created several scoring opportunities against Lebanon but failed to capitalize, a recurring issue he wants his side to correct.
“Lebanon are a strong team with physically superior players, but in terms of football, I felt we played better. The problem is that we wasted too many chances. At international level, it’s not easy to even create opportunities, so every chance must be taken. Small mistakes can be costly, and that’s exactly what happened in the final minutes against Lebanon.”
Turning his attention to Mongolia, Nafuzi expects another physically demanding contest.
“Mongolia are no easy opponent. They are strong, fast, and powerful. From what I’ve seen, even Thailand had to work very hard against them. So this will be a tough game, and we must prepare with full focus.”
For Nafuzi, the objective is clear – a first victory to keep Malaysia’s qualification hopes alive.
“The most important thing is to win. We must score the first goal, collect three points, and if possible add more goals because goal difference might be crucial. But above all, we need to win.”
The coach also hinted at possible rotation to manage player fatigue, given the short recovery time between matches.
“Some players are still tired from the last game. We’ll assess the situation over the next two days. There could be changes to the starting eleven, depending on the players’ condition.”
Malaysia face Mongolia on Saturday, September 6, before their decisive final group match against hosts Thailand on September 9.
Credit Photo : FAM
