Negeri Sembilan FCs Luqman Hakim Shamsudin has been called up to join the Harimau Malaya training camp ahead of their Group F match against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup Qualifiers next Tuesday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the national team announced that the former junior international replaces Kuching City FCs Jordan Mintah. “Luqman Hakim has been called up to join the centralised training camp to replace Jordan Mintah, who has left camp due to health issues,” the national team shared on the official Malaysia NT Facebook page today.
The 23-year-old last wore the national jersey during a friendly against Singapore in March 2022. The Harimau Malaya squad began their eight-day centralised training camp yesterday in preparation for the return-leg match against Nepal at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Malaysia had previously defeated Nepal 2-0 in the first leg at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, in March. The Harimau Malaya, led by coach Peter Cklamovski, currently top the four-team standings with a perfect record of four consecutive wins, including a decisive 4-0 victory over Vietnam, their nearest challengers, in June.
Malaysia leads the group with 12 points, followed by Vietnam with nine points, Laos with three points, and Nepal yet to secure any points. Only the group champions will qualify for the Finals to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.