Kans Participating In The 2024 Olympics Still Exists, Jokowi Hopes That The Indonesian National Team Will Win The Third Rank Of The U23 Asian Cup

President Joko Widodo (left two) delivered a press statement on the sidelines of his working visit in Banyuwangi, East Java, Tuesday (30/4/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) still hopes that the U-23 Indonesian national team can advance to the 2024 Paris Olympics despite being defeated by Uzbekistan in the U-23 Asian Cup semifinals in Qatar on Monday 29 April.

According to Jokowi, Indonesia's chances of qualifying for the Olympics are still two times, namely by winning the third-placed U-23 Asian Cup match or by winning the intercontinental playoffs against Guinea on May 9.

"Yes, we hope to enter, if I'm not mistaken, there will still be another match with Guinea. If I feel (according to feelings) I (Indonesian national team) enter the Olympics, God willing," Jokowi said on the sidelines of his working visit in Banyuwangi, Tuesday, April 30, was confiscated by Antara.

Responding to Indonesia's defeat to Uzbekistan, the President considered the result to be normal.

"Yes, there must be a match that won, someone lost. And last night I saw the spirit and hard struggle of the U-23 national team even though I had not made a win," he said.

The U-23 Indonesian national team lost 0-2 to Uzbekistan U-23 in the 2024 Qatar U-23 Asian Cup semifinal match at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha.

All of Uzbekistan's winning goals came in the second half through Khuisain Norchaev in the 68th minute and Pratama Arhan's own goal in the 86th minute.

This match was also marked by Rizky Ridho's red card in the 83rd minute after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review led by Sivakorn Pu-Udom.