The Cambodian national team surprised everyone when they called up 7 naturalized players to participate in the 2024 AFF Cup (newly named ASEAN Cup). Most of these players are not of Cambodian origin but have played in the country's national championship for many years.
There are three players from Japan: Yudai Ogawa (born 1996), Takaki Ose (1991) and Hikaru Mizuno (1995). The remaining players are Coulibaly Abdel Kader (Ivory Coast, 1993), Rafael Andes Nieto Rondon (Colombia, 1996) and Mohammed Faeez Khan (South Africa, 1996). Nick Taylor (1998) is an American citizen, born to a Cambodian mother, and has played for the national team since 2022.
Among them, Yudai Ogawa, Hikaru Mizuno, Mohammed Faeez and Nick Taylor have played for the Cambodian national team before. Meanwhile, Takaki Ose, Nieto and Coulibaly will make their debuts in the upcoming AFF Cup.
Coach Koji Gyotoku and his students will be determined at the ASEAN Cup 2024. In 10 times participating in the tournament, they have never passed the group stage.
In this year's group stage, they will face Malaysia (December 8), Singapore (December 11), Timor Leste (December 14) and Thailand (December 20). With quality players in the squad, Cambodia's strength will be significantly improved.
