Fadhil Yunus
Brunei Darussalam’s under-23 national football team recently received their match schedule in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia next month after the official fixture list was released.
The young Wasps will meet hosts Cambodia, Timor Leste and Philippines in Group ‘A’, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos pitted against one other in Group ‘B’.
Completing a full line-up of national youth teams in the regional meet will be Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore in Group ‘C’.
Brunei will begin their campaign against Cambodia at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on the opening day of the competition on February 14.
They will then play Timor Leste next at the same venue three days later before closing their group stage against Philippines at the Prince Stadium on February 20.
If Brunei qualify as group winners, they will play the winner from Group ‘C’ on February 24 in the last four.
They will meet the winner from Group ‘B’ if they emerge as the best runner-up among the three groups.
The final – which will decide the best under-23 team in ASEAN football – will be held on February 26, with the third-place match also scheduled on the same day.
All knock-out matches will be held at the newly established 75,000-capacity Morodok Techo National Stadium.
Brunei have been expected to make their debut in the competition following an official draw in Singapore last December.
The young Wasps, along with Singapore and Laos, withdrew from the competition during the previous edition in Cambodia in 2019.
Despite Brunei’s absence, the Sultanate was still represented through referee Abdul Hakim Mohd Haidi who officiated the semi-final match between Cambodia and Thailand.
Earlier this month, the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) outlined its plans to participate in five main tournaments including the AFF Under-23 Championship.
The latest instalment of the AFF under-23 tournament will be the third time that will be organised by the AFF since its inception in 2005.
Indonesia are the defending champions after beating Thailand 2-1 in the final match at the Olympic Stadium.
