Jokowi Praises The U-17 National Team To Hold Ecuador's Imbang

President Joko Widodo after watching the U-17 Indonesian national team match against Ecuador U-17 in the inaugural U-17 World Cup match at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, Friday night (10/11/2023). (ANTARA/Willi Irawan)

SURABAYA - President Joko Widodo praised the U-17 National Team for holding Ecuador's U-17 draw in the inaugural U-17 World Cup match at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java.

"Yes, I'm happy, because 1-1 means we get one point even though we desperately guard so that our goal doesn't break into," said President Jokowi after the match, reported by ANTARA, Friday, November 10.

According to the President, these results should be grateful considering the rank of the two national teams which are far adrift.

"Secondly, the ranking is different, Ecuador is ranked 38 and we are 145, so please look at it too, but our U-17 team was desperately dead," he said.

Jokowi assessed that the national team played a bit nervous in the early minutes of the match, but after that the game of the Bima Sakti team improved.

"Earlier I saw, the time before the first minute was very nervous but after that it was a draw," he said.

Jokowi is optimistic that the next match against Panama in the national team can get three points to keep hope of qualifying for the next round.

"Hopefully later with Panama we will get 3 points," he said.

He praised the opening at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya which was different from other World Cups.

"It's good, it's crowded, it's different from other World Cups," he said.

The U-17 Indonesian national team drew with the Ecuadorian U-17 national team with a score of 1-1 in the Group A match of the Indonesian U-17 World Cup at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (GBT) Surabaya, Friday night.

Indonesia's goal was scored by Arkhan Kaka in the 22nd minute. Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian national team's goal was scored by Allen Obando in the 28th minute.

From the results of the match, Indonesia is in third place with one point. Meanwhile, Ecuador occupies the second position with the same points.