The Brunei Darussalam national under-23 team ended their campaign at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers with a 3-0 loss to Oman at the Prince Mohammad Stadium in Zarqa City last Tuesday.
The result marked the Young Wasps’ third consecutive defeat in the group stage having failed to register a single goal and conceded 23 goals.
It also brought an end to their international fixtures this year which saw a run of seven straight defeats and one goal during that run-in from Wafiq Danish Hasimulabdillah. The far superior Omanis took only five minutes to open the scoring after Nibras Al-Maashari headed home a cross on the near post.
It was a case of dejavu once Brunei conceded again three minutes later as an unmarked Salem Al-Abdulsalam stole in the near post to simply guide the ball past the hapless Brunei under-23 goalkeeper following a cross from Mamoon Said Al-Araimi.
The Young Wasps, coached by Atsushi Hanita, was fearing the worse of another humbling after Mamoon added his name to the score-sheet in the 10th minute.
Nevertheless, it was the end of any goal-scoring activity from the Young Reds thus avoiding another footballing embarrassment having previously lost 9-0 to Jordan and 11-0 to Syria.
Ten group stage winners and four best runners-up teams qualified to the main draw where they will be joined by tournament hosts Qatar.
Four teams affiliated by the Asean Football Federation (AFF) namely Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia will be represented in the most prestigious continental competition at under-23 level.
Saudi Arabia are the reigning holders after beating Uzbekistan 2-0 in the final at the Milliy Stadium in Tashkent last year. – Fadhil Yunus
