Clashes In Tentu Match, Malaysia U-23 Coach: Indonesia U-23 Is More Mature

JAKARTA - The U-23 Indonesian national team will be the opponent that must be faced by Malaysia U-23 in the final match of the 2025 AFF U-23 Cup Group A phase.

Ahead of this match, Nafuzi Zain as Malaysia's coach said the opposing team had a more mature squad.

The two teams will meet at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 20.00 WIB. For the U-23 Indonesian national team, this match is quite profitable because apart from being the host status, the results in the previous two matches were also flashy.

The Garuda Muda squad recorded a 8-0 win in the inaugural match against Brunei Darussalam U-23, after which they won 1-0 against the U-23 Philippines.

For Nafuzi Zain, the U-23 Indonesian national team's record is enough to show that this potential opponent is a mature team.

Moreover, in the 2025 AFF U-23 Cup, Indonesia U-23 was indeed strengthened by many players who had played for the senior team. There are at least 12 games, such as Muhammad Ferarri, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Arkhan Fikri, and Hokky Caraka.

Malaysia's coach admitted that he had analyzed the Indonesian U-23 game. The Red-White Team's speed and physical strength of Gerald Vanenburg's team are in the spotlight of Nafuzi Zain.

"Based on how Indonesia U-23 played in the previous two group matches (against Brunei and the Philippines), obviously they are a very good team."

"In individual terms, the players have extraordinary quality, especially in terms of speed and physical strength on the ground."

"We can see the way they play at speed in the game. Some players play in League 1 and show maturity," Nafuzi Zain said in a statement before the match, quoted Monday, July 21, 2025.

Despite the views of the opposing coach, the U-23 Indonesian national team is currently more profitable because it is currently in the top position of Group A with six points, three points ahead of the Philippines and Malaysia.

That way Indonesia only needs a draw to lock up tickets to the semifinals of the 2025 AFF U-23 Cup.

Meanwhile, Malaysia must win over Indonesia U-23 with a score of 2-0 or more to lock the ticket to the semifinals.