Malaysia’s U-23 football team aims for a crucial opening win against Laos in SEA Games Group B to boost morale before facing Vietnam
NATIONAL Under-23 head coach Nafuzi Zain is emphasising the critical need for a winning start as his team prepares to face Laos in their SEA Games Thailand 2025 opener.
He stressed that early losses in the previous two editions hampered Malaysia’s progress in the tournament.
“If you look at the two previous Games, we lost the early matches and that made it difficult for us to advance further,” Nafuzi said.
He acknowledged that securing three points against Laos at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium will be a tough challenge.
This follows Laos’s resilient 2-1 defeat to Vietnam in their opening match.
A victory is seen as vital for boosting team spirit ahead of their toughest group fixture against favourites Vietnam.
“That’s why, whatever happens, we must do our best and get a win over Laos,” the coach added in a FAM-shared video.
The squad will be without three key players as their clubs refused to release them for the biennial Games.
Nafuzi remains confident, stating he will rely on the available players to secure the result.
Harimau Muda are in Group B with Laos and Vietnam, where only the group winner and best runner-up advance.
Malaysia last won SEA Games football gold in 2011 in Jakarta. – Bernama
