KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia have been drawn in the same group as arch-rival and nemesis Vietnam for the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF Cup) competition, scheduled in December.
In the draw held online from Bangkok, Thailand today, the national squad coached by South Korean Kim Pan Gon was drawn together with Vietnam in Group B for the fourth consecutive edition since 2016.
Based on the FIFA World ranking released recently, Vietnam are in 97th spot, the best ranked team in ASEAN, while Malaysia are at 148th, more than 50 spots behind Vietnam.
Vietnam, coached by Park Hang-seo has remained the bogey team for the national squad, especially during the 2018 AFF Cup final when Malaysia under the tutelage of coach Tan Cheng Hoe lost 2-3 in a closely fought final.
Apart from Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos have been drawn in Group B.
Meanwhile, Group A is headed by defending champion Thailand and will have the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and either Brunei or Timor-Leste who will be involved in a playoff to qualify.
The competition will be played on a home and away format from Dec 23 to Jan 15.
Since the inception of the AFF Cup in 1996, Malaysia has won the title only once, back in 2010 under coach Datuk K. Rajagobal, after beating Indonesia but emerged runner-up in 1996, 2014 and 2018.
Thailand remain the most successful team with six titles (1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020) followed by Singapore with four titles (1998, 2004, 2007, 2012) and Vietnam with two titles in (2008 and 2018).
According to Pan Gon the draw would provide a good opportunity to test the strength of his team.
“Its a good draw for us, even though the other teams are also very strong but we are ready for it. Vietnam is the most strongest while Singapore, Myanmar and even Laos are good teams.
“We are going to give our best fight and best result. This is a very good opportunity to face the strong teams and see new faces put to test,” he said via a video recording made available to the media.
AFF Cup draw
Group A: Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines and (either Brunei or Timor Leste)
Group B: Vietnam, MALAYSIA, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos
