(VOVWORLD) - Coach Dinh The Nam hopes to get additional players for the Vietnam lineup in their AFF U23 Championship semi-final game against Timor Leste slated for Thursday evening, after more than half of the team infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on Wednesday sent four more U23 players, including a goalkeeper and a striker, to Cambodia for the national team, and the four, after undergoing COVID-19 testing, are expected to arrive in Phnom Penh on time for the semi-final clash.
The Vietnam U23 side are going through a COVID-19 crisis in Cambodia as more than 10 players have been confirmed as infections. Doctors announced another infection case on Thursday morning, meaning the team now only have nine healthy footballers in Cambodia.
If all four newcomers pass COVID-19 testing and arrive on time, the U23 squad will have a total of 13 footballers to fully meet the organizers’ regulations.
VFF on Monday also urgently sent six players to support the team ahead of their Group C game on Tuesday which saw Vietnamese beat their opponents 1-0 and qualify for the semi-finals.
Timor Leste are currently having a successful tournament after defeating Cambodia, the Philippines, and Brunei, topping Group A. They represent have many new talents, with experts labeling them as key players of their senior national team in the future.
Despite challenges, Vietnam aim to outplay Timor Lest to cruise to the final game.