Young Tigers target last four in Asean Under-23 Championship
PETALING JAYA: National youth coach Nafuzi Zain has set a semi-final target for the Asean Under-23 Championship in Jakarta from July 15-29.
The Young Tigers kick off their Group A campaign against the Philippines on July 15, before facing Brunei (July 18) and hosts Indonesia (July 21).
It is Nafuzi's first international assignment with the squad, and he's hoping to guide them into the last four.
However, the former Kedah boss is taking a more grounded approach, focusing on each match, starting with the Philippines.
"Of course, the atmosphere is different when managing a national squad," he said after announcing his 30-member training squad at Wisma FAM on Wednesday.
"I was informed early on that the approach here is not the same as at club level.
"The match against the Philippines is crucial, and a good start will build momentum. After that, we shift focus to Brunei, and then face Indonesia, which will be our toughest test."
Nafuzi said reaching the semi-finals would be a key step in building confidence and consistency among his young charges.
"Our aim is, of course, to reach the final, but right now, the priority is to get into the top four."
The squad include 12 players from Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and eight from Selangor, with several names already capped at senior level, including Ubaidullah Syamsul Fazili, Fergus Tierney and Haqimi Azim Rosli.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on July 25. The third-place playoff and final will be held on July 29.
Malaysia's best finishes in the tournament were fourth place in the 2005 and 2023 editions, both in Thailand.
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