Former Malaysia striker believes coach Tan Cheng Hoe can defeat Vietnam despite the "Malayan Tigers" squad losses.

Nor Farhan Muhammad, a former striker for the Malaysian national team, is confident that Tan Cheng Hoe's side can beat Vietnam despite the absence of several key players.

Former Malaysia striker Nor Farhan Muhammad believes the "Malayan Tigers" urgently need players capable of making a difference like Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, given that this midfielder cannot continue playing in the ASEAN Cup 2026.

Wan Kuzain, a midfielder currently playing for Sporting Jax, had to return to the US as per a pre‑agreed arrangement with the Malaysian national team. This means he cannot join Harimau Malaya for the remainder of the tournament.

The Malaysian national team trains in preparation for the match against Vietnam – Photo: FAM (Football Association of Malaysia).

Wan Kuzain's absence further depletes the Malaysian squad. Earlier, coach Tan Cheng Hoe had already lost the services of Endrick Dos Santos and Jimmy Raymond due to injuries.

Nor Farhan, who played for Malaysia from 2006 to 2015 with 12 caps, assessed the lack of Wan Kuzain as a significant blow, especially in terms of goal‑creation support: "In my view, Wan Kuzain's presence greatly helps in creating goals; we need players like him."

"With the news that Wan Kuzain will not be playing, it will be a tough task for the Malaysian team. But with coach Tan Cheng Hoe's sharpness, it is possible that we can get past Vietnam," Nor Farhan Muhammad declared.

Midfielder Aliff Haiqal Lokman Hakim Lau sustained an injury in Malaysia's final group‑stage match against the Philippines last Saturday. With Wan Kuzain now unavailable and several other midfielders carrying injuries, Tan Cheng Hoe faces the difficult challenge of rebuilding the midfield against a Vietnamese team expected to pose a much tougher test.

The 58‑year‑old coach admitted that Wan Kuzain's departure, combined with injury issues, leaves Malaysia short of options in a key area of the pitch. However, he stressed that the team's morale remains high: "Wan Kuzain returned to the US on Sunday after playing against the Philippines on Saturday. Right now we are having problems in midfield, with Aliff Haiqal also injured. The situation has certainly weakened us, especially in midfield, while two or three other players are also carrying injuries. When Wan Kuzain had to go back to the US, we will definitely miss the qualities these players bring."

"However, as a coach, I have to stay positive and come up with the best possible plan with the players available. What I notice is that the motivation within the whole team is still very high ahead of the match against Vietnam," Tan Cheng Hoe told Scoop.