KUALA LUMPUR: Laos coach Ha Hyeok-jun admitted his side struggled to maintain their intensity after the break as they went down 5-1 to Malaysia in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifiers on Tuesday night.
“We stuck to our game plan in the first half and were leading 1–0,” he said.
“But the problem came in the second half - both the physical and mental aspects of our players dropped. We couldn’t defend as well, and that led to conceding many goals.”
The defeat highlighted the growing gap between Laos and some of their South-East Asian rivals.
Hyeok-jun acknowledged that while progress is being made, the nation’s domestic football structure still lacks the physicality and competitiveness needed to compete consistently at international level.
“We can see improvement and big potential in our players. But compared to countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, we’re still behind - not only in football quality, but in football culture.
“That kind of development takes time. Our league needs to become stronger so players can maintain their fitness and mentality.”
Looking ahead, Hyeok-jun outlined a long-term plan centred on nurturing Laos-based players while keeping the door open for those with Laotian roots who are living abroad.
“In the long term, developing local players is our main objective.
“But we are open to players with Laotian heritage - for example, if one of their parents is Laotian, that’s acceptable. For those without any Laotian blood, even if they’ve lived here for years, we’re more cautious.
“Our focus remains on building the foundation with local talent.”
