AFC believes Malaysia will beat Nepal, aiming for a five-match winning streak.

The AFC has expressed confidence that Malaysia will defeat Nepal in their fifth matchday of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, despite the team's future depending on a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). According to their website, Malaysia is predicted to aim for a fifth consecutive victory, in a match that will be played away but at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

The facts that led the AFC to favor Malaysia.

In the article, the AFC highlighted the consistent performance under coach Peter Cklamovski, along with factors supporting a victory against Nepal.

• Malaysia “aims for a fifth consecutive win when they face Nepal in an away match, even though the game is being played at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium,” according to the AFC.
• In the first leg in March, Malaysia won 2-0 against Nepal.
• Nepal has yet to earn a point after four matches and also lost to Laos.
• Nepal's national league was "frozen" for two and a half years, affecting performance and preparation.

The above facts were used by the AFC to reinforce their belief in Malaysia's ability to secure all three points in the rematch.

Nepal context: disruption of the competition rhythm.

A key point is Nepal's instability. The two-and-a-half-year interruption to their domestic league has led to a decline in quality and tempo, as evidenced by their four consecutive losses and defeat against Laos. This is a disparity that the AFC believes Malaysia can exploit to decide the outcome early.

Significance for Group F and the next stage

The AFC also mentioned the race in Group F between Malaysia and Vietnam. Vietnam is currently 3 points behind Malaysia and must focus entirely on their match against Laos. For Malaysia, the immediate goal is to secure 3 points against Nepal, thereby building momentum for the crucial match against Vietnam in the sixth round next March.

From a results perspective, the victory helps Malaysia maintain their advantage in the top group of Group F; while for Vietnam, the pressure to catch up demands a solid performance against Laos. The AFC emphasized the expectation of "nothing less than 3 points" for Malaysia before the crucial match.

Legal factor: the CAS ruling remains a variable.

The AFC's assessment comes amidst Malaysia's legal battle at the CAS concerning seven naturalized players. According to sources, Malaysia's fate depends on two factors: the on-field results and the final CAS ruling. This makes the match against Nepal not only significant in terms of immediate points, but also a way to maintain positive momentum while the outcome off the field remains uncertain.

Notable quotes from the AFC

The AFC wrote: “The Malaysian national team will be aiming for their fifth consecutive win when they face Nepal in an away match, even though the game will be played at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.”

The AFC homepage reiterated: “Malaysia won 2-0 in the first leg in March and expect nothing less than three points before heading into the crucial sixth leg match against Vietnam next March.”

Looking at the facts

• Current form: Malaysia is on a winning streak and is aiming for a fifth consecutive victory (according to AFC).
• Opponent's context: Nepal's top-level competition is interrupted due to the disruption of their domestic league, with 0 points after 4 matches.
• First leg: Malaysia 2-0 Nepal in March.
• Match schedule: The match against Nepal is considered an away game but will be played at Bukit Jalil; followed by a very important match against Vietnam in round six.
• Non-professional variable: The case at CAS involves 7 naturalized players.

With these points in mind, the AFC's assessment is consistent: Malaysia has a clear opportunity to control the pace of the race in Group F, before all attention shifts to their clash with Vietnam next March.