Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) hopes to see Malaysia U23 national team advance to the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024 in Doha, Qatar.
In AFC U23 Asian Cup 2023, the semi-finals are not only to place the team as one of the top four teams but also to have a chance to win a ticket to the Paris Olympics this July, where the top three teams will automatically represent Asia while another team will go through an AFC-CAF playoff competition against Guinea, 4th place of AFCON U23 2023.
According to Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, FAM President, to ensure that the hope can be achieved, his side will work hard to prepare the team, including sending Malaysia U23 national team to experience some quality-friendly matches abroad.
Even so, Hamidin admits that it is not easy to realize that hope but for him in football anything can happen and the squad managed by Juan Torres Garrido has the opportunity to make history.
“If we look at this qualification AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024, it means only four teams qualify for the Olympics, three plus one.”
“One will compete in the playoffs with other continents. So if they get the top two places (group stage), they will qualify for the quarter-finals and then enter the semi-finals.”
“Our hope is that if we can enter the semi-finals, it’s beautiful, but before that we have to qualify for the quarter-finals. So me and FAM will press (try) as hard as possible,” he said when met in Doha, Qatar.”
“I have met with Juan Torres (Garrido) and he is indeed in Doha and discussed with me, we will make preparations to play in Indonesia four corners first.”
“And also coming to Doha early to travel to some friendly and training events, that is important for us to do. We have a choice whether to go to Qatar, Dubai or Saudi Arabia, but it is best in Qatar,”
Malaysia U23 national team has drawn in Group D along with Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Kuwait.
Credit Photo : FAM
