Vietnamese women have one less opponent at the 32nd SEA Games
"Indonesia decided not to participate in the 32nd SEA Games women's football. The organizers sent a notice that Group A only had Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia," the VFF leader shared with MetaSports on the morning of April 6.
Before that, Indonesia still registered to compete and was in Group A. But just a few hours after the draw on the afternoon of April 5, the team of ten thousand islands announced their withdrawal. As a result, coach Mai Duc Chung and the teams in this group lost one match because there were only 4 teams left in Group B. Group B has hosts Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and Laos.
This is the second SEA Games in a row that Indonesia withdraws from women's football.
Abandon the SEA Games, but Indonesia still competes in the Olympic women's football qualifier 2024. This team is in Group F, will face Taiwan and Lebanon.
Vietnam has the most love in SEA Games women's football with 7 gold medals. In which the team has been crowned in three consecutive periods in 2017, 2019 and 2022 under the guidance of coach Mai Duc Chung.
Thailand is the second team with five gold medals. However, the most difficult opponent to play with Vietnamese women currently is said to be the Philippines when this team convinces a series of players with Filipino origin but living abroad to play. The Philippines women defeated Vietnam 4-0 in the final of the AFF Cup 2022, then won tickets to the 2023 World Cup finals before Mr. Mai Duc Chung's teachers and students.
Vietnamese female is currently in Nepal. The team has just defeated the host 5-1 in the first leg of Group C in the first qualifying round of the 2024 Olympic Games. The two teams will play the second leg on April 8.
Coach Mai Duc Chung said that the goal of the Vietnamese women's team is to defend the 32nd SEA Games gold medal. Besides, he and his students must prepare to attend the final round of the 203 World Cup starting in July, where the team are in Group E with the defending champion USA, runners-up Netherlands and Portugal.
