Vietnam team says goodbye to AFF Cup 2024 hero, opportunity for U.23 stars

Coach Kim Sang-sik has a headache when the Vietnamese team loses AFF Cup 2024 hero Chau Ngoc Quang until the end of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, but it will also be an opportunity for the young stars of U.23 Vietnam.

Ngoc Quang plays an important role in the 2024 AFF Cup championship

Photo: Minh Tu

Vietnam team loses another hero of AFF Cup 2024

In the 15th minute of the match between Hai Phong FC and Ninh Binh FC, midfielder Chau Ngoc Quang had to be taken off the field by medical staff even though he did not suffer a serious impact. X-ray results confirmed bad news for coach Kim Sang-sik and the Vietnamese team when the hero of the 2024 AFF Cup suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

It is expected that on October 2, Ngoc Quang will fly to Ho Chi Minh City for knee surgery, before rehabilitating with the diagnosis of returning to the field after 6-8 months, meaning he will miss the entire V-League 2025-2026 as well as the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.

This is a huge loss for the top team Ninh Binh FC as well as the Vietnam national team. As for coach Kim Sang-sik, he will have to find a replacement for the midfielder who is very satisfied with his great contribution to the AFF Cup 2024 championship team.

Ngoc Quan and Quang Hai in the Vietnamese national team jersey

Photo: Minh Tu

Also, up to this point, one can list a long list of AFF Cup 2024 heroes who are absent for a long time due to injury such as Xuan Son, Vi Hao, Tan Tai, Van Thanh, Van Toan, Nhat Tan, Thanh Binh... and now Ngoc Quang.

Opportunity for young stars of U.23 Vietnam

On September 30, Coach Kim Sang-sik announced the list of the Vietnamese team with many U.23 Vietnam faces such as Trung Kien, Hieu Minh, Nhat Minh, Van Khang, Xuan Bac, Phi Hoang, Thanh Nhan, Dinh Bac.

In which, the gap left by the right striker position of Ngoc Quang will be the competition between Quang Hai, Hai Long and Thanh Nhan, Van Khang and to some extent Dinh Bac.

Van Khang is playing impressively in the right forward position at The Cong Viettel.

Photo: Minh Tu

It was also added that Quang Hai had previously been injured but still played 74 minutes in the 2-0 victory of Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) over Nam Dinh Club, so he was still called up by coach Kim Sang-sik for examination.

On the contrary, Hai Long is in good form after playing the whole match to help Hanoi FC defeat Thanh Hoa FC 2-1 to get the first victory of the 2025 - 2026 V-League season.

The competition for the right midfielder position will be very interesting as Van Khang, Thanh Nhan and Dinh Bac are all playing well at their clubs and are eager to show their ability in the precious opportunity at the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Dinh Bac will be a name that Mr. Kim needs to consider as he can play well and has played in every position on the attack line for the Vietnam national team, but recently he has mainly played as a left striker at CAHN Club and a center forward at U.23 Vietnam.

Coach Kim Sang-sik will test many factors of U.23 Vietnam

Photo: VFF

Meanwhile, both Thanh Nhan and Van Khang are currently playing as right forwards for PVF-CAND and The Cong Viettel in the V-League. Notably, Van Khang is also the king of assists with 10 assists in all competitions for The Cong Viettel last season.

The absence of Chau Ngoc Quang - one of coach Kim Sang-sik's discoveries, is a regret, but on the contrary, it will also open up an opportunity for Mr. Kim to create new competition in the right winger position of the Vietnamese team.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-chia-tay-nguoi-hung-aff-cup-2024-co-hoi-cho-dan-sao-u23-185250930115615817.htm