Malaysia criticized for risk of early elimination from ASEAN U23 Championship

Malaysia criticized for risk of early elimination from ASEAN U23 Championship

The U23 Malaysia team have come under fire after their disappointing 0-2 loss to the Philippines at the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship, which can make them exit the tournament early.

Malaysia (yellow jersey) during the 0-2 loss to the Philippines in the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia on July 15, 2025. Photo by MalaysiaNT

The match, held at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Tuesday night, saw Malaysia stumble against a Philippines side that was rated lower.

This unexpected defeat puts Malaysia at risk of early elimination, with Group A featuring host Indonesia as another tough opponent. Only the three group winners and the best second-placed team will advance to the semifinals.

Malaysian media expressed surprise and disappointment.

New Straits Times noted that Malaysia was expected to win easily but was instead beaten by a double from 18-year-old Otu Banatao in the first half.

"The national youth team produced a dismal display," New Straits Times wrote. "Nafuzi Zain with a nightmare start in his first outing in charge. Despite enjoying 70% possession, Malaysia were toothless in attack and wasted a string of chances - a pattern that proved costly."

Malaysia took 21 shots, 5 of which were on target, while the Philippines registered 7 shots with 3 on target.

The Star called it a "surprising defeat", while news agency Bernama praised the Philippines' resilient defense and said Malaysia were lucky not to receive a heavier defeat.

Coach Nafuzi Zain admitted after the match that Malaysia's defense was weak and anxious at the start, allowing the Philippines to score. He acknowledged that the team fought to equalize but struggled, adding that they were also unlucky in key moments.

"The players were nervous and guilty of ball-watching. We created chances but just couldn't convert," Zain said after the match.

Defender Ubaidullah Shamsul noted that the team's wide formation left them vulnerable defensively, preventing them from recovering quickly. He hopes the team will improve when facing Brunei on July 18 and Indonesia on July 21.

The use of naturalized players has only been applied at the national level in Malaysian football, where it yielded a 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

However, this policy has not reached the youth level, revealing weaknesses in Malaysia's domestic football development.

At the U22 and U23 Southeast Asian level, Malaysia have struggled to compete against stronger teams like Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, and failed to reach the top three in the last eight years.

Their last success came in SEA Games 2017, when they won a silver medal on home soil.

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