Indonesia U-17 Evaluates Performance After AFF Exit, Eyes Asian Cup

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian U-17 national team is shifting focus to the upcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup after the 0-0 match against Vietnam at Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Sunday evening, April 19, 2026, ended their AFF U-17 2026 campaign.

Head coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto said the result of the match would serve as key evaluation material ahead of the Asian competition.

“We prepared a defensive and counter-attacking game plan, but our counterattacks were not optimal, and this will be a note before we compete in the Asian Cup,” Kurniawan said at a post-match press conference on Sunday night, April 19, as quoted by Antara.

He still praised his players for executing the defensive strategy well, especially against an aggressive Vietnam side that had impressed in earlier matches. However, he acknowledged the need to improve transitions from defense to attack.

“When we play with five at the back, support going forward is limited. So, we must maximize counterattacks,” he said.

Responding to criticism from Vietnam’s coach who expected a more open match, Kurniawan stressed that the defensive approach was part of long-term preparation for the Asian Cup. “We deliberately played a defend-counter strategy, waiting in our own half and looking for counterattacks,” he added.

The coaching staff will now evaluate the squad to select the best 23 players from an initial pool of 50 for the Asian Cup, including newly added players Matt Baker, Noah, and goalkeeper Mike. “In the next few days, we will evaluate to choose the best players,” he further said.

Goalkeeper Abdillah Ishak, who made several key saves, said he played with confidence after earning the coach’s trust. “I just played freely because I was trusted by the coach and I didn’t want to let the country down,” said Abdillah, adding he would continue to improve through training and matches.

Meanwhile, the AFF U-17 2026 semifinals will see Laos face Malaysia and Vietnam take on Australia on April 22, with the final scheduled for April 24. ***