Harimau Malaya drawn with Iran, Tajikistan in CAFA Cup debut
The 2025 edition of the Central Asian Football Association's (CAFA) flagship tournament will run from Aug 29-Sept 8, with Group B matches to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
World No. 18 Iran are the highest-ranked team in the group, followed by Tajikistan (104), Malaysia (131) and Afghanistan (160).
Malaysia open their campaign against Tajikistan on Aug 29, before taking on Iran (Sept 1) and Afghanistan (Sept 4).
For the record, Malaysia have not played World Cup-bound Iran since their 2-0 defeat to the Middle East side at the 2007 Asian Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
Group A, based in Tashkent, features hosts Uzbekistan (57), Oman (77), Kyrgyzstan (103) and Turkmenistan (142).
The group winners will advance to the final in Tashkent on Sept 8, while the runners-up will play for third place on the same day in Dushanbe.
Malaysia's first appearance at the CAFA Nations Cup comes at a time when the team are starting to show promise under new coach Peter Cklamovski.
The Australian has overseen back-to-back over Nepal (2-0) and Vietnam (4-0) in the Asian Cup qualifiers and will use the tournament as preparation for upcoming qualifying matches against Laos — away on Oct 9 and at home on Oct 14.
"Our debut in the CAFA Nations Cup marks another important chapter for Harimau Malaya on the international stage. With the right preparation, unity, and belief, the squad will rise to the challenge and make the country proud," said the national team in a statement on Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Wiegman says she has grown into role as England boss as game has changed
ZURICH (Reuters) -Sarina Wiegman is not the same football manager she was when she arrived in England armed with a set of strict rules nearly four years ago, the Dutchwoman said. The 55-year-old, who was fresh off leading the Netherlands to the 2017 European title and the World Cup final in 2019, would not permit players to wear smartwatches or rings, she said as an example, since the team would be doing their own health monitoring. It initially did not sit well with players. But Wiegman, whose England squad begin the defence of their Euro title on Saturday, said she has grown into her role as the game has changed and the trust of her players has taken root. "I've become a little bit older too, with more experiences in football and in life, and more experience in England, you get to know so much more about the team, about the FA (Football Association), about English football -- I think it just becomes more natural," Wiegman told reporters on Wednesday. "You have set the tone in the beginning, how you want things, and then you hope that things become organic. "My approach is the same (now), I just worry a little bit less," she added. "In the beginning, I wanted to solve everything, but you can't, as a coach, you just have to let go." Wiegman has a remarkable record in major tournaments. After her successful stint in the Netherlands, she led England to Euro 2022 victory less than a year after her hiring, and then their first appearance in a World Cup final in 2023. She chalked it up to having good teams and great support. "You need players that score goals and prevent goals. That's very basic," she said. "But that's what we're trying to do, create that environment, trying to be the best prepared, and you need a little bit of luck." CLEAR AND HONEST Wiegman met with reporters at the team's hotel in Zurich for a wide-ranging conversation that covered everything from her favourite British food -- Sunday roast -- to adapting to life in a new country, her direct demeanour and the difficult job of cutting players. She loves Britain's "massive" sports culture, she said. "All day on TV there's sports, there's either football or there's rugby or there's cricket, or something else," said Wiegman. "And football is huge. In every part of the country, you have people that really support one club and it's just their life." While people have called Wiegman blunt, she does not like that characterisation. She just prefers to be clear and honest with players. "Players know where they stand," midfielder Georgia Stanway told reporters recently. "She always says it the way it is, whether you like it or not, it's something you have to take on the chin." But breaking players' hearts is a part of the job Wiegman hates. "I'm very caring, and that's something not very helpful in this job, because I want to take care of people. But I have the job to make the hard decisions," she said. "As a former player, maybe as a mum, I'm trying not to play into that, 'Oh they must feel horrible.' I need to shut that out. That's one of the most difficult parts of the job. But still, I need to give that clarity. That's my job." The Lionesses, who begin their Group D campaign against France in Zurich, have taken to calling themselves "new England" with seven players who are making their major tournament debut. When asked if a triumphant Euros in Switzerland would be the greatest achievement of her career, Wiegman said she does not like to compare. "Every tournament on its own is a great achievement," she said. "If you look at '22 and then you look at '23, totally different, you're trying to adapt with the team, and bring the team together, and try to get everyone in the best possible way that she performs at her highest level. "Hopefully we can do that six games in a row." (Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Harimau Malaya drawn with Iran in Cafa Nations Cup
Harimau Malaya are currently ranked 131st in the Fifa world rankings. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia have been drawn in Group B alongside world No 18 Iran for next month's Central Asian Football Association (Cafa) Nations Cup 2025. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) said that Harimau Malaya, ranked 131st in the world, will also face hosts Tajikistan (ranked 104th in the world) and Afghanistan (160th). Malaysia will open their campaign against Tajikistan on Aug 29, followed by Iran on Sept 1 and Afghanistan on Sept 4, with all three matches taking place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Group A will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, featuring four other teams — hosts Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan and Oman. Only the winner of each group will qualify for the final in Tashkent on Sept 8, while the runners-up will play for third place in Dushanbe on the same date. After the tournament, Malaysia will continue their remaining 2027 Asian Cup Group F qualifiers against Laos in Vientiane on Oct 9 and Kuala Lumpur on Oct 14, before meeting Nepal in Kathmandu on Nov 18 and Vietnam away in March next year.
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Monaco's Pogba 'dreams' of returning to France squad
MONACO: Paul Pogba said during his unveiling at new club Monaco today a return to the French national team "would of course still be a dream and a bonus for me." The 2018 World Cup winner boasts 91 caps for France, but has not represented Les Bleus since March 2022 due to injuries and an 18-month suspension for doping which ended four months ago. "It's the wish of every French football player to represent the France national team, but there are stages," said the 32-year-old. "Today I'm at stage one: coming back and performing well. "There are spots to be won and you have to earn them because it's a very, very good group, a great team," he added. In Pogba's absence, France reached the final of the 2022 World Cup but were beaten on penalties by a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina. They also reached the semi-finals of the European Championship last year, before losing 2-1 to eventual winners Spain. Midfielder Pogba signed a two-year contract with Ligue 1 club Monaco on Saturday in a bid to relaunch his career. The former Manchester United player has made only 12 appearances across the last three seasons due to injuries, suspension and an extortion case in which he was the victim. Pogba failed a drugs test in August 2023 after a match for Juventus and has been free to return to football since March, although his contract at the Italian giants had been terminated last year. In 2024, his brother Mathias was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for his role in a plot to extort €13 million (RM64.6 million) from Pogba in 2022. Having won four Italian league titles with Juventus and the 2017 Europa League with English side Man United, Pogba will now play club football in his home country for the first time in his professional career. - AFP
