Shin Tae-yong Targets The U-22 National Team To Appear In The AFF Cup Final

The Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong (right) gave a statement to reporters in Jakarta, Saturday (2/11/2024), on the sidelines of the 2024 AFF Cup trophy tour. (Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong did not hesitate to target the U-22 national team to appear in the final in the 2024 AFF Cup tournament.

"I want the team to advance until the final," said Shin on the sidelines of the 2024 AFF Cup trophy tour in Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, November 2.

Despite coming with the U-22 national team, Shin Tae-yong emphasized that Indonesia will do its best in the 2024 AFF Cup.

The Indonesian national team, he continued, has players with good quality in the age sector.

However, Shin has not announced who the players are. However, there are several Under-22 players who have brought Indonesia to the semifinals of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup such as Rizky Ridho, Muhammad Ferrari, Komang Teguh, Hokky Caraka, Ernando Ari, and Pratama Arhan.

While regarding the possibility of calling players from abroad, Shin said there was almost no chance for it.

"It is difficult to call players from abroad because the AFF Cup is not an official FIFA tournament. That is also the reason why Indonesia did not field the senior national team in the competition," said the South Korean tactician.

Shin continued, the Indonesian U-22 national team will focus on preparing for the 2024 AFF Cup after the senior national team has finished facing Japan and Saudi Arabia, respectively on November 15 and 19, in the continuation of the third round of Group C match of the 2026 World Cup Qualification at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta.

After the two important matches, Shin will bring the U-22 national team to undergo a training camp (TC) in Bali starting November 26.

"TC will last for 10 days and from there we will immediately go to Myanmar," he said.

In the 2024 AFF Cup, Indonesia joined in Group B with Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos.

Indonesia's first match in the group took place on December 9 in Yangon, Myanmar. Next, Indonesia will host Laos in Jakarta on December 12, then travel to Vietnam three days later and return to fight in Indonesia against the Philippines in the group's final party on December 21.

Since the AFF Cup was held in 1996, Indonesia has never won the tournament.

Indonesia's best achievement in the AFF Cup was to become a finalist or second-placed which was achieved six times, namely in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2020.