Latest news with #NafuziZain
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Early exit for Harimau Muda but Nafuzi sees silver lining
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's early exit from the AFF Under-23 Championship may sting but it could also be the wake-up call Harimau Muda need ahead of their bigger test in September. A goalless draw against hosts Indonesia sealed their fate as the national youth side bowed out of the group stage at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya on Monday. Malaysia had earlier suffered a 0-2 defeat to the Philippines in the opening group match but defeated Brunei 7-1. Despite the disappointment, head coach Nafuzi Zain sees the campaign as a valuable stepping stone before the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers. 'There's disappointment but I'm proud of their commitment. It was not easy playing in this stadium,' said Nafuzi. 'We absorbed the pressure well and throughout the 90 minutes, Indonesia didn't have clear chances, except from long throw-ins.' While Malaysia lacked a cutting edge in the final third, they demonstrated tactical discipline and defensive composure, especially in how they neutralised the host nation's attacking threats. One of the standout performers was centreback Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili, who silenced Indonesian strikers Jens Raven and Hokky Caraka with grit and aggression. What's more important is that he didn't show any fear during the game, which bodes well for his development. 'It was a high-pressure game, and to me, the players responded well,' said Nafuzi. 'This is an age-group competition, and some players are still gaining international experience, we surely need to plan better. 'Now, the players know what it takes to compete at this level and I hope it will help them mature and show growth in the game before the AFC Under-23 qualifiers.' With the AFF campaign now behind them, Nafuzi and his squad will turn their focus to the AFC U-23 qualifiers – where Malaysia will face stronger opponents and a higher level of intensity. 'It's now about learning from the defeat and stepping up when it matters most.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia U23 team exits AFF Cup after draw with Indonesia
THE Malaysian Under-23 football team's journey in the 2025 AFF U23 Championship ended after a goalless draw against Indonesia in their final Group A match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The result left them third in the group, missing out on a semifinal spot. Despite the elimination, head coach Nafuzi Zain commended his players for their resilience, particularly goalkeeper Zulhilmi Sharani, who made crucial saves to deny Indonesia. 'Congratulations to all players who displayed a high degree of fighting spirit. Taking on Indonesia in front of thousands of their fans isn't easy, but the players managed to rein in their emotions and play with confidence,' he said. Nafuzi acknowledged the team's gradual improvement, noting that many players were new to international competition. 'We changed our approach in the first half to defend and wait to counterattack, before piling on the pressure in the second half in hopes for a goal,' he explained. Though disappointed with the early exit, he remained optimistic about future tournaments. 'I'm proud of the increased performance by the team. We will now focus on the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers,' he added. The match saw seven yellow cards issued, three for Malaysia and four for Indonesia, reflecting the intense battle on the field. Indonesia topped Group A with seven points, followed by the Philippines (six points), Malaysia (four points), and Brunei (zero points). - Bernama
Barnama
3 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
National U23 Team Out Of 2025 AFF U23 Cup After Goaless Draw With Indonesia
JAKARTA, July 21 (Bernama) -- The national Under 23 (U23) football team's hopes of advancing to the semifinal of the 2025 U23 Championship ended after they were held to a goalless draw against Indonesia in their last Group A match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium tonight. Despite tonight's result, coach Nafuzi Zain expressed pride towards his charges, especially the defence, singling out goalkeeper Zulhilmi Sharani for his excellent performance in fending off Indonesia's constant attacks and keeping a clean sheet. 'Congratulations to all players who displayed a high degree of fighting spirit. Taking on Indonesia in front of thousands of their fans isn't easy, but the players managed to rein in their emotions and play with confidence, without hesitation,' he said after the match. bootstrap slideshow He stressed that the young squad had improved from match to match, especially since many of them were playing for the first time at the international level. 'We changed our approach in the first half to defend and wait to counterattack, before piling on the pressure in the second half in hopes for a goal. 'I'm a bit disappointed to not be going to the semifinal, but overall, I'm proud of the increased performance by the team,' he said, adding that the squad would fully focus on the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers after this. The experience would also be valuable, he pointed out, and promised to raise the team's maturity and physical aspects. The match was a fiercely contested affair, with seven yellow cards shown by Japanese referee Takasaki Koji, three to Malaysia and four to Indonesia. The draw means that Indonesia tops Group A with seven points, followed by the Philippines (six points), Malaysia (four points) and Brunei last without a single point.
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Caution's the name of the game as Nafuzi plots upset over Indonesia
PETALING JAYA: National Under-23 football team head coach Nafuzi Zain is wary ahead of the team's crucial group clash against hosts Indonesia in the AFF U-23 Championship on Sunday (July 20). In a must-win game for Malaysia to stand a chance of getting to the semi-finals, Nafuzi is wary of Indonesia's quality players as the hosts sit top of Group A with two wins. "Based on how Indonesia played their two group matches, it's clear they are a very good team," said Nafuzi. "Individually, the players possess great quality, especially when it comes to their speed and physical strength. "We can see the way they play with speed in their game. Some of the players play in the Indonesia Liga 1 and show high maturity," he said. Indonesia thrashed Brunei 8-0 in their opening group match and followed this up with a 1-0 win over the Philippines. Malaysia are currently in third place with three points, after a 7-1 win against Brunei on Friday and a 0-2 loss in their opening match against the Philippines, who are second in the group, level on points with Malaysia. Nafuzi added that the team are injury-free, with wingers Aliff Izwan Yuslan and Faris Danish ready after being rested for the match against Brunei. "So far, everything has been going well. The team is positive and the injured players are also back in training. "Hopefully, we can field them for the big match against Indonesia," he said. The Harimau Muda will be facing a tough challenge at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and Nafuzi said the team is likely to be similar to the squad that faced Brunei.
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Nafuzi takes goal conceded in big win seriously, as Indonesia loom
Happiness: The national players celebrating their 7-1 victory over Brunei in the AFF U-23 Championship on Friday. — Bernama PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Under-23 coach Nafuzi Zain was pleased with his team's 7-1 drubbing of Brunei in the AFF U-23 Championship on Friday but he admitted the goal conceded was a blemish on their dominant performance. 'The scoreline was good, but when you concede, it doesn't leave a perfect impression. Still, we will learn from it and make sure to bounce back,' Nafuzi said after the Group A clash at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The Harimau Muda were clinical in attack, netting seven past a hapless Brunei side and showing the kind of sharpness Nafuzi had been demanding from his forwards. 'Alhamdulillah, the players gave a good performance and showed high commitment, especially the front line, which was more clinical this time,' he said. Despite the emphatic win, Nafuzi warned against complacency as Malaysia prepare for what he called their toughest test yet – the highly anticipated clash against tournament hosts Indonesia on Monday. 'I don't want the team to get too comfortable with this big win because a bigger challenge awaits us in the final group match against Indonesia.' He acknowledged that the Malaysia-Indonesia fixture is always highly charged and emotionally intense, not just for players but for fans as well. 'This match against Indonesia is the one everyone is looking forward to. 'It's also the toughest because we're facing the hosts and one of the title favourites. 'Like it or not, we must find a way to win to qualify for the semi-finals.' Nafuzi is expecting a cauldron-like atmosphere in Jakarta and has called on his players to show mental resilience and composure. 'Indonesia's supporters are extraordinary. So my players must be mentally prepared, have confidence and know how to handle the pressure during the match.' Against Brunei, Nafuzi made six changes to the starting 11, giving valuable minutes to players who have seen limited action so far in the tournament. The rotation also helped preserve the fitness of key players ahead of the crunch tie. 'We gave opportunities to all players to get game time. This is also important as preparation for the next match,' he added. It is a must-win game for Malaysia against Indonesia if they want to stand a chance of getting to the semi-finals.
