Indra Sjafri’s figure is in the spotlight as the Indonesian U-20 National Team’s progress in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup group stage has stalled.
Garuda Nusantara Team was eliminated after losing 1-3 to Uzbekistan in the second match of Group C, Sunday (16/2). This defeat put Indonesia in a box with Yemen from Group C.
This result also meant that Indra Sjafri failed to realize his dream. Before the tournament, the former Bali United coach had ambitions to bring the Indonesian U-20 National Team to the 2025 U-20 World Cup by qualifying for the semifinals of the U-20 Asian Cup.
Indra Sjafri has been recorded as having led the Indonesian U-20 National Team or previously the Indonesian U-19 National Team to appear in the Asian Cup three times. The best result was achieved when he qualified the Indonesian U-19 National Team to the quarter-finals in 2018.
Indonesia, which had host status, qualified for the quarter-finals with Qatar from Group A. However, Indonesia’s progress as runner-up was stopped by Japan in the last eight.
Previously, when it debuted in the 2014 U-19 Asian Cup, Indonesia’s progress under Indra Sjafri was stopped in the group phase.
Of the three matches played, Evan Dimas Darmono and his friends always lost. The Garuda Muda team had to be satisfied with occupying the bottom position in the group containing the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Australia.
The Indonesian U-20 National Team still has one match left against Yemen in the last match of Group C of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup, Wednesday (19/2). However, the result of this match is no longer decisive because Indonesia and Yemen have been eliminated from the competition.
Thailand has the potential to suffer the same fate as the Indonesian U-20 national team which has been confirmed to be eliminated from the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup.
Similar to Indonesia, Thailand faces tough opponents in Group D. The War Elephants are in the same group as teams like Japan, South Korea, and Syria.
In the first match, Thailand also had to admit Japan’s might. Emerson Pereira’s team was defeated with a score of 0-3, February 14.
Three days later, Thailand will face another tough opponent, South Korea. The clash between the two teams will take place at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch, Monday (17/2).
