U23 Vietnam add more players after Covid-19 cases detected

By Lam Thoa February 21, 2022 | 02:31 am PT

Vietnam players celebrate in the AFF U23 Youth Championship game against Singapore on February 19, 2021. Photo by Vietnam Football Federation

With numerous Covid-19 cases detected in the squad, coach Dinh The Nam has decided to call up six more players before facing Thailand in 2022 AFF U23 Youth Championship.

"The players have to gather quickly for Covid-19 testing before going to Cambodia in time for the game with Thailand tomorrow," a Vietnam Football Federation official told VnExpress on Sunday.

After the regular Covid test on Sunday, 12 cases were detected among the players.

The reinforcement players will have to undergo PCR testing before going to Cambodia and might not make it in time for the Thailand game. However, if Vietnam advance to the semifinals, those players will help plenty.

With a goal difference of +7, Vietnam are topping group C and will advance if drawing or winning against Thailand. Vietnam will also move on as the best second-placed team if they lose but concede less than seven goals because they have a better result than the second place of group A, Cambodia.

Covid-19 is hitting the 2022 AFF U23 Youth Championship hard. Indonesia and Myanmar both withdrew from the tournament due to a lack of players. Singapore only had 14 players for the game with Vietnam last Saturday, in which they lost 0-7.