President Jokowi Optimistic That The U-23 Indonesian National Team Will Win Against Guinea

The Indonesian U23 national team players took pictures shortly before the start of the U23 Asian Cup semifinal match against Uzbekistan at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Monday (29/4/2024). PHOTO via ANTARA

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is optimistic that the U-23 Indonesian national team will win the playoff match against Guinea on May 9 in France.

"Anyway, when asked for hope, I hope to win. I must be optimistic about winning," Jokowi said on the sidelines of reviewing the electric vehicle exhibition at the Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 3.

The president admitted that he did not have a special message to the national team players, which he said had performed very well, even though he lost the match against Iraq to fight for third place in the U-23 Asian Cup.

"Wow, that's very good. Excited, very good," said Jokowi when asked for his comments about Garuda Muda's game.

Indonesia has postponed its certainty of winning tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics after being defeated by Iraq 1-2 in the match for third place in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar, Thursday (2/5).

The defeat forced Garuda Muda to undergo a playoffs match against fourth place in the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations, Guinea, on May 9, 2024.

Meanwhile, Iraq was ranked third in the U-23 Asian Cup following Japan and Uzbekistan qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.