Unconfirmed: Wan Kuzain reportedly disappointed to be absent from the FIFA ASEAN Cup squad

Utusan Malaysia reported on 19 September that Wan Kuzain was unhappy to find his name outside the Harimau Malaya party for the FIFA ASEAN Cup.

The list, and who is on it

FAM published 23 names on 17 September for the tournament in Jakarta and Bandung, with a further 13 players held on a standby list should anything change. Wan Kuzain is on neither. The squad gathers at home on 21 September and flies to Jakarta the following day.

Nine of the 23 are at Johor Darul Ta’zim, with a tenth at the club’s second team. Three come from Selangor FC, three from Terengganu FC, and four are based abroad. Tan Cheng Hoe held on to only five of the 25 he took to the ASEAN Championship in July and August, so most of this group is a recall rather than a continuation.

What the squad is walking into

Malaysia open in Group A against Bangladesh at Gelora Bung Karno on 25 September, then meet Indonesia at the same ground on 28 September and Singapore in Bandung on 1 October. The final is on 5 October.

Three group matches is a short tournament, and the camp gives this group one day together before the flight.

The club the squad leans on

Johor Darul Ta’zim top the Malaysia Super League with five wins from five, 25 goals scored and none conceded, which is the plainest reason so much of the squad comes out of one dressing room.

Beyond what Utusan Malaysia reported, nothing about the thinking behind the omission is in the public record.

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