Vice President Optimistic That The Indonesian National Team Can Beat Guinea

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JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said he was optimistic that the U-23 Indonesian national team could beat the U-23 Guinea national team in the play off match for the 2024 Paris Olympics which took place in France on May 9.

"Therefore, we hope that later the play-off will be played off, we hope that because it is more fit, it is hoped that it will win the match," said the Vice President giving a press statement after attending the "Silaturahim Idul Fitri 1445 Hijriah of the Regional Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance (KDEKS) Banten Province" at the An-Nawawi Tanara Islamic Boarding School, Serang Regency, Banten, Saturday.

The defeat to the U-23 Iraqi national team in the race for third place in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup in Qatar made Garuda Muda's move towards the 2024 Paris Olympics to be determined through a play-off against Guinea.

The vice president also considered the defeat to Iraq because it was only unlucky because the game was actually balanced.

"I actually think that I don't lose to Iraq, I'm just unlucky. The game is actually a draw," said the Vice President.

The vice president also said that the stamina factor, according to the Indonesian U-23 national team coach Shin Tae-yong, was also the cause of Garuda Muda's defeat to Iraq.

"According to the coach, it was due to the fatigue factor. That means, it's not a loss, actually, but it's fatigue. That is, in terms of game, it is not inferior," said the Vice President.

For this reason, the Vice President hopes that later the Indonesian U-23 national team players will return to fitness and calm the match against Guinea. The Vice President also invited the Indonesian people to pray for Garuda Muda to qualify for the Olympics.

"That's why we pray for the Olympics. It's a matter of pride and encouragement also because later the next generation will be motivation, inspiration. Why can't we do it, now that's what we want to encourage," he said.

The U-23 Indonesian national team match against Guinea is the last chance for Garuda Muda to win tickets to compete in the world's highest sporting event in Paris.

Coach Shin Tae-yong's team have not managed to ensure that they qualify for the Olympics at the first opportunity because they lost to Iraq with a score of 1-2 in the match for the third position of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar, on Thursday (2/5).

Guinea is the fourth-ranked team for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations. Based on FIFA rankings released in April, Guinea ranks 76th in FIFA with 1,324.65 points, while Indonesia is ranked 134th in FIFA with 1,102.7 points.