Coach Nafuzi calls for U-23 rebound after Asean shock
Malaysia were expected to cruise to victory in their Group A opener but were left stunned after Otu Bisong struck twice in the first half at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Tuesday, despite dominating 70 per cent of possession.
With only the group winners guaranteed a place in the semi-finals, Malaysia must now beat Brunei on Friday and hosts Indonesia next week to stay in contention for the title.
Nafuzi hopes the shock defeat to the unfancied Filipinos will serve as a wake-up call.
However, he refused to pin the blame on his players, stressing that the squad are still gaining experience at international level.
"We played well, created plenty of chances but couldn't score. That was our most glaring weakness. The Philippines took theirs, and that was the difference — they won, we didn't," said Nafuzi in Jakarta.
"We can't dwell on this defeat. We need to fix what's lacking, especially in defence and attack. The Brunei match is crucial, and we'll do whatever it takes to win."
In the group's other match on Tuesday, Indonesia hammered Brunei 8-0.
Meanwhile, defender Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili called on his teammates to tighten up at the back and produce a more organised display in their next outing.
"Our biggest issue was failing to cover quickly. We were too open when they attacked," said Ubaidullah.
"This is a valuable lesson for the team and for myself, and we need to be better prepared for the next match."
The Young Tigers have yet to win the Asean Championship since its inception in 2005, with their best finishes being fourth place in the inaugural edition and again in 2023.
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