Head coach of the Malaysia U23 national team, Nafuzi Zain, has admitted that his side faces an uphill battle in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group F, as they prepare to take on Thailand, Lebanon, and Mongolia.
Speaking at the official pre-match press conference, Nafuzi emphasized the strength of Malaysia’s group opponents while reiterating his squad’s commitment to give their all in pursuit of qualification.
“I want to show my respect for the three teams here — Thailand, Lebanon, and Mongolia. Malaysia is in a very tough group because all three teams are very strong,” Nafuzi said. “We will try to give everything to qualify for the final rounds.”
The 45-year-old coach also reflected on his own journey with the national team, highlighting this as his second major assignment after previously leading the squad in Indonesia.
“This is my second tournament. The first one was in Indonesia. I hope we can deliver a good performance again. Although many of our players are still young, we will try our very best to reach the finals,” he added.
Malaysia, With a youthful squad at his disposal, Nafuzi has called for focus, resilience, and unity as his charges face what could be a defining test in their international development.
Credit Photo : FAM
