According to information from the coaching staff, striker Bui Vi Hao officially cannot continue to accompany U23 Vietnam at this year's tournament.
The striker born in 2003 relapsed from a ankle injury and was forced to leave the national team when he did not recover in time. Previously, Vi Hao had problems after a collision in a friendly match with U23 Syria and had to skip the training session on the evening of January 4 for a medical examination.
Doctors determined that the injury was not simple, causing the coaching staff not to risk registering him in the final list.
The absence of Vi Hao makes the U23 Vietnam attack even more difficult, especially when Thanh Nhan has not yet reached his best physical condition after the injury he suffered at the end of December.
In that context, coach Kim Sang-sik decided to keep Nguyen Le Phat to add an attacking option.
Le Phat once scored the only goal for U23 Vietnam in the friendly match against U23 Syria, thereby creating a professional mark.
Not only the front line, the goalkeeper position of U23 Vietnam is also posing many worries.
Goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai has not yet completed visa procedures to go to Saudi Arabia. If they do not join the army in time, U23 Vietnam will only have two options in goal, Tran Trung Kien and Cao Van Binh.
In the worst-case scenario, when goalkeepers have physical problems or cards, the coaching staff may have to consider the situational option of using another player to cover the goalkeeper's position.
Before finalizing the list of 23 players, coach Kim Sang-sik is forced to make important decisions in the context that the force is not in optimal condition.
However, the whole team still showed a focused spirit and determination to overcome adversity, aiming for the goal of playing hard and showing bravery at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals in Saudi Arabia.
