Malaysian striker Luqman Hakim is determined to impress in the final Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam, aiming to secure his place in the national team
KUALA LUMPUR: Negeri Sembilan FC striker Luqman Hakim Shamsudin is determined to seize his opportunity if selected for Malaysia’s final Group F match against Vietnam. The 2027 Asian Cup qualifier takes place in Nam Dinh on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old, recalled to Harimau Malaya after nearly four years, said head coach Peter Cklamovski’s faith has boosted his confidence. He last featured for the national team in a friendly against Singapore in March 2022.
Luqman expressed his eagerness to help the team secure all three points at the Thien Truong Stadium. Malaysia are already out of the running for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals.
“The match against Vietnam is extremely important, because for me, this is about the country’s dignity,” he said in a video clip shared by the Football Association of Malaysia.
He is also determined to make an impact to solidify his place in the squad. Luqman attributed his recall to increased playing time with Negeri Sembilan in the M-League this season.
He has made 22 appearances, contributing six goals and accumulating 1,659 minutes of playing time. This has led to improved performance and confidence.
Vietnam have already qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals. They lead Group F with 15 points.
Malaysia are second with nine points. Laos and Nepal are third and fourth, respectively, with three points each.
Malaysia’s hopes of qualifying on merit for a second consecutive Asian Cup were dashed after being docked points by the Asian Football Confederation. The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee found FAM breached Article 56 of its code for fielding ineligible players.
The players were fielded in two qualifying matches against Nepal and Vietnam. The sanction follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision upholding FIFA’s ruling on documentation violations.
The ruling involved seven heritage players. They are Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.
