FAM President Ab Ghani Confident Malaysia Can Reach ASEAN Cup Final
FAM president Ab Ghani Hassan believes the Harimau Malaya squad can advance to the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup final in Indonesia.
During the Football Association of Malaysia’s centennial celebration, president Ab Ghani Hassan expressed belief that the Harimau Malaya can reach the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup final in Indonesia. He cited the talent of interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s 23-man squad and urged players to play for the country, not the federation. The team, which includes JDT winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi, naturalised striker Bergson da Silva, and Cerezo Osaka defender Dion Cools, departed early on for the competition that runs from Sept 25 to Oct 5.
Malaysia, ranked 136th, starts in Group A against Bangladesh in Jakarta, then meets Indonesia and Singapore, with the group winners set to contest the final at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Honorary president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin also attended the briefing. The coach’s confidence reflects hopes of a strong showing on the regional stage.
