Ahead of the crucial Asian Cup qualifier, Coach Kim confirmed the appointments of three players to the team’s leadership roles. Defender Duy Manh continues as captain, while Nguyen Hoang Duc and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh will both serve as vice-captains.

While the selections of Duy Manh and Hoang Duc were expected, the decision to promote Cao Pendant Quang Vinh came as a surprise to many.

As of this announcement, Pendant had only played once for the national team - in a June match against Malaysia, which also marked his international debut. Despite his limited national team experience, the CAHN FC player has demonstrated strong technical ability and a friendly, team-oriented attitude.

These qualities earned the trust of Coach Kim Sang-sik, who has tasked Pendant with the role of connecting players and coaching staff both on and off the pitch.

In the team’s final training session before the match, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Vice President Tran Anh Tu visited the squad to offer words of encouragement.

Nepal cautious but determined

Nepal’s team arrived in Binh Duong and immediately began their preparations with a training session and a press conference.

Speaking about his opponents, Nepal head coach Matthew Ross said, “Vietnam may have many U23 players, but I know they’re a strong team with great ambition. They’ll bring fresh energy, and we’ll need to be careful.”

“Our goal is to get points. Three points would be great, but even one point would be satisfying,” Ross added. “But to earn that, our young players must put in serious effort.”

“As underdogs, we’ll definitely play defensively. I’ve told my players that even if they only play for five or ten minutes, they must give their best. Matches like this are valuable development opportunities. They must learn to adapt quickly.”

Vietnam will take on Nepal at 7:30 PM on October 9 in the final round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Coach Kim Sang-sik has emphasized that his team is focused on earning a full six points from two matches against Nepal and is not distracted by Malaysia’s recent controversy involving unauthorized naturalized players.

Duy Nguyen