Opportunity for 'Cong Phuong's cousin' in U23 Vietnam

Having not made any mark in the previous two training sessions, Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong - Cong Phuong's cousin - has a great opportunity to assert himself in U23 Vietnam.

Quoc Cuong (left) in the victory over Becamex TP.HCM - Photo: VPF

Preparing for the 33rd SEA Games later this year and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship early next year, the Vietnam U23 team will gather on October 4 in Hanoi before leaving for the UAE for training and friendly matches.

In this training session, the Vietnam U23 team has a new Vietnamese-Russian player, Vadim Nguyen, bringing the total number of Vietnamese-Russian players to 3 - the most in history. The remaining two Vietnamese-Russian players are Viktor Le (Russia) and Tran Thanh Trung (Bulgaria).

Step into the light

But a name that also attracts a lot of attention is Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong - a 21-year-old midfielder who is playing prominently in the V-League 2025-2026 for the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club with 2 goals after 6 appearances at the beginning of the season.

It is noteworthy that the two goals scored by Quoc Cuong were decisive in the victory for the HCM City Police Club right on the away field.

The first goal helped the team raise the score to 2-1 in the 3-1 victory over Becamex TP.HCM in round 4. The second goal sealed the 3-2 comeback victory over Song Lam Nghe An in round 5.

Quoc Cuong celebrates emotionally after scoring the winning goal 3-2 against Song Lam Nghe An - Photo: CAHCM FC

With that impressive performance, Coach Kim Sang Sik gave Quoc Cuong the opportunity to return to the Vietnam U23 team after not being called up for the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship in July and the 2026 Asian U23 qualifiers in September.

Previously, Quoc Cuong was first called up to the Vietnam U23 team by coach Kim Sang Sik in March 2025.

He and the Vietnam U23 team participated in the 2025 CFA China Team U23 International Tournament in China and did not leave much of an impression under head coach Dinh Hong Vinh, so he has not been called up since then.

During the time of coach Philippe Troussier, Quoc Cuong was also called up to the Vietnam U23 team to prepare for the 2024 U23 Asian qualifiers. But he was also eliminated early because he could not compete with his seniors.

But this time, the best player of the 4th class of Hoang Anh Gia Lai JMG Academy has many opportunities to prove himself, despite the fact that the midfield of the current U23 Vietnam team is quite crowded because there are many good players.

Because not only has he shown great progress in his skills, Quoc Cuong can also play in many positions - something that coach Kim Sang Sik really needs in arranging the tactical formation.

If he continues to make efforts and play impressively, Quoc Cuong can completely become a new breeze in the U23 Vietnam team at the upcoming 33rd SEA Games.

Quoc Cuong's grandmother is Cong Phuong's grandfather's younger sister. This player was admitted to the 4th class of Hoang Anh Gia Lai JMG Academy, in the additional enrollment period at the end of 2014.

Quoc Cuong was highly appreciated by coach Guillaume Graechen in the 4th course. So when he moved to work at Nutifood JMG Academy, this French coach also brought Quoc Cuong and many other talented players with him.

NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-hoi-cho-em-ho-cong-phuong-o-u23-viet-nam-20251001110823883.htm