Kuala Lumpur: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has described Harimau Malaya’s 1-1 draw against Cape Verde in a Tier 1 international friendly on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur as a positive development for the national team. She emphasized that this result, against a team ranked 72nd in the world, will help build the team’s confidence ahead of their crucial 2027 Asian Cup qualifying match against Vietnam on June 10.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hannah Yeoh expressed her hopes that every match will instill new confidence in the players as they prepare to face Vietnam. She shared these thoughts with reporters at the 14th National Junior Wushu Championship, an event attended by nearly 500 exponents from 17 teams nationwide and graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

In preparation for the qualifier, Malaysia will face Cape Verde again in a closed-door friendly at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday (June 3). Hannah urged fans to support Harimau Malaya, highlighting the influence of the Ultras’ energy and chants on lifting the players’ spirits. She noted the difference in atmosphere during a recent Manchester United-ASEAN All-Stars match without Ultras and stressed the importance of fan support.

Looking forward, Hannah expressed hope that the national team can improve their ranking under the new head coach, supported by government and corporate sponsorship. On the junior wushu championship, she revealed that her ministry has allocated RM165,000 through the Sports Matching Grant to support the five-day event. Wushu has been reclassified as a sport in schools, aligning with the ministry’s long-term athlete development plan, particularly for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.