Victory in AFF U-19 is a Boost for Indonesia U-19's Qualification Hopes for AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025

The Indonesia U-19 national team, coached by Indra Sjafri, triumphed in the 2024 AFF U-19 Championship by defeating Thailand U-19 with a score of 1-0 in the final held at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya. The winning goal was scored by Jens Raven.

Indra Sjafri believes that this achievement will significantly boost the team’s confidence as they prepare for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers. He highlighted that the team's success is a product of the players' hard work and rigorous preparation over the past seven months since January.

Expressing his gratitude, Indra emphasized his commitment to continue striving for achievements. He is optimistic about the upcoming AFC U-20 qualifiers, scheduled from September 21 to 29, 2024, and believes that the AFF title will serve as a strong foundation for further success.

Erick Thohir conveyed his relief and optimism regarding the future of the senior national team, which currently has an average age of 24.46 years according to Transfermarkt. Thohir emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent to ensure a continuous flow of skilled players to the senior level.

"Alhamdulillah, after our last victory in 2013, 11 years ago, our young team, composed of reserve players, not only possesses excellent skills but also a champion's mentality," said Thohir, as quoted from the official PSSI website.

He added that the success of the U-19 team is a testament to the country's robust football development program, which aims to build strong foundations from the grassroots level.

Throughout the AFF U-19 Championship, Indonesia showcased impressive performance, winning all five matches and achieving four clean sheets. Timor-Leste was the only team to score against Indonesia, doing so twice.

Thohir concluded by expressing hope that these young talents will continue to strengthen the national team in the future, ensuring that Indonesian football progresses steadily from the bottom up.