The Cambodian and Sri Lankan teams walk onto the pitch ahead of last week’s 0-0 draw in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This week is a must-win for both teams, with the winner moving through t the next round of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Supplied
Cambodian national football coach Felix Dalmas has declared that his team will do their utmost to secure a win against Sri Lanka in tonight’s Phnom Penh rematch.
Kick off for the second leg of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier is set for 7pm at the National Olympic Stadium.
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His determination comes from the knowledge that this is a crucial step in the long journey to the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia. The winners will advance to the next round of qualifiers.
The first leg, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on September 5, ended in a 0-0 draw.
“We know we are playing against a well-prepared Sri Lankan team. I believe this is the first time the Cambodian national team has faced a squad with many European-based players, but we will try to win this match,” said Dalmas, as he addressed a Monday press conference.
“We are fully prepared and hope to deliver a good result for our supporters. Therefore, we hope a large crowd will come to cheer on the Cambodian team,” he added.
The Argentina-born coach acknowledged that he has found himself under a lot of pressure since taking on the role in 2018, but expressed his pride in leading the team up to this point.
“I am proud to lead the Cambodian national team, and I try to do everything I can to make sure the team win. Of course, there is pressure in managing this team, and our staff also face pressure, but remember, whenever we face pressure, it means we are doing something important, so I welcome the challenges as they drive us to push harder to help the team win,” he explained.
Cambodian midfielder Nick Taylor, who did not play for the “Kouprey”, as the national side are known, in the first leg in Sri Lanka on September 5, expressed his confidence that the team's collective efforts would produce a win against Sri Lanka in tonight's decisive match.
“We know the opponent we are facing is different from the previous Sri Lanka team, as they now have many quality players from Europe. However, our team will try to do our best, and we are well-prepared and eager to win this match,” he said.
Sri Lankan national coach Abdullah Almutairi also expressed his excitement about guiding his team through the Phnom Penh match. He thanked Cambodia for the warm welcome he and his team have received and for the excellent preparations made for the match.
He anticipated that the game would be challenging for both teams.
“This match will be difficult for both teams as the first leg ended in a draw. It will be tough for both sides, but it will also be exciting for the supporters of both countries,” he said.
When asked how confident he was about a victory over the Cambodian team, Almutairi replied, "If I say I’m 100 per cent confident, I might face problems, and if I say 50 per cent, the president of the Football federation of Sri Lanka might also stop me.”
“This match is not too focused on the result; we should enjoy playing and make it exciting for our spectators. As for the chances of winning, I would say it's 50/50,” he added.
