Kuzri gets Under-23 call-up, but Luqman is out

Chance to prove himself: Wan Ahmad Kuzri Wan Ahmad Kamal (right) is among 30 players called up for the national Under-23 squad’s central training camp. — FAM’s Facebook

KUALA LUMPUR: United States-based player Wan Ahmad Kuzri Wan Ahmad Kamal has once again got the opportunity to prove his prowess with the national team but sensational striker Luqman Hakim Shamsudin is missing from the list.

Kuzri is among 30 players called up by the national Under-23 squad head coach Brad Maloney to join the central training camp starting on Jan 27, in preparation for the 2022 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The last time the 20-year-old midfielder participated in the national team’s central training camp was with the national Under-19 squad in August, 2020.

In the current list, Maloney has retained only nine players from the squad that qualified for the finals of the 2022 Under-23 Asian Cup after topping the group in the qualifying round in Mongolia last year.

The nine players are Mohd Umar Hakeem Suhar Rezwan, Mohd Shafi Azswad Sapari, Mohd Faiz Amer Runnizar, Mohd Fahmi Daniel Mohd Zaaim, Azhad Harraz Arman, Mohd Nur Azfar Fikri Azhar, Syed Mohd Nasrulhaq Syed Bidin, T. Saravanan and Mohd Aiman ​​Afif Md Afizul.

However, Luqman, who plays for Belgian League club KV Kortrijk, is surprisingly has been omitted.

The squad are scheduled to leave for Phnom Penh on Feb 12, and begin their campaign against Myanmar in the opening Group B match at Prince Stadium on Feb 15.

Maloney’s side will then face Laos on Feb 18 at the same venue, and meet Indonesia in the group’s final action at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on Feb 21.

Champions of groups A to C as well as the runners-up from the best group will advance to the semi-finals on Feb 24, while the final is scheduled to take place on Feb 26.

Meanwhile, the five players placed on the reserve list are Mohd Firdaus Kaironnisam and Mohd Najmuddin Akmal Kamal Akmal of JDT III; K. Thivandaran and Aidil Danial Izhar of Penang, as well as Kuala Lumpur Nabil Hakim Bokhari.