Against North Mariana Islands U-17, Indonesian U-17 National Team Rotates Players

The U-17 Indonesian national team will rotate players against the North Mariana Islands U-17 (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The U-17 Indonesian national team will undergo the second match of the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification against the North Mariana Islands U-17. In the match which took place on Friday, October 25, 2024, Nova Arianto as the coach will rotate the players.

Indonesia U-17's second match against North Mariana took place at the Abdullah Alkhalifa Alsabah Stadium at 21.30 WIB. This match is quite crucial for Garuda Muda.

If the U-17 Indonesian national team is able to win a landslide over the North Mariana Islands U-17, while Australia U-17 draws or loses to Kuwait U-17, Nova Arianto's team has a chance to reach the top of Group G.

By occupying the top of Group G, the U-17 Indonesian national team will automatically qualify for the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup finals.

Even so, Nova Arianto admitted that he would rotate against the North Mariana Islands. He doesn't seem to want to drain his players in this second match.

"Yes, of course with Lebanese U-17 backing down, only the number one to three teams are counted."

"This is our calculation, including that there are several players who we may save their energy (against the North Mariana Islands)," Nova Arianto said in a statement.

By rotating a number of players, Garuda Muda is expected to focus more on the match against Australia in the last match of Group G, Sunday, October 27, 2024.

"So that later in the third match against Australia, the players will be in good shape," said Nova.

"Because once again, with the new regulations, we have to try to choose again who the players who can appear against the North Mariana Islands and Australia," said the coach.

In this qualifying round, only the group winners and the five best runners-up will qualify for the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup.