23 players selected for AFC Championship

Vietnam’s coach Park Hang-seo on January 7 announced the names of 23 players who will compete in the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship finals.

Strikers Nguyen Cong Phuong of Hoang Anh Gia Lai

The coach named three goalies, Dang Ngoc Tuan of SHB Da Nang, Bui Tien Dung of FLC Thanh Hoa and Nguyen Van Hoang of Saigon.

Besides, the Republic of Korean coach also named seven defenders, including Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Thanh Chung of Hanoi and Tran Dinh Trong of Saigon; 11 midfielders, including Pham Duc Huy of Hanoi, Nguyen Quang Hai and Truong Van Thai Quy of Hanoi; and only two strikers, namely Nguyen Cong Phuong of Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Ha Duc Chinh of SHB Da Nang.

Earlier, to prepare for the tournament, Vietnam held a friendly match with Palestine in China on January 4 and the two teams tied 1-1.

Vietnam are in Group D of the AFC event alongside Syria, Australia and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The tournament will kick off on January 9. Vietnam will first face the RoK, then meet Australia on January 14 and Syria on January 17.

For the Southeast Asian region, this is the second time Vietnam and Thailand have been competing in the AFC U23 Championship’s final round.

VNA