AFC believes Malaysia will beat Nepal, aiming for a 5-match streak

The AFC has expressed confidence that Malaysia will defeat Nepal in the fifth round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, despite the team's future still depending on the lawsuit at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). According to the assessment on the homepage, Malaysia is expected to aim for a fifth consecutive victory, in a match that is considered an away match but takes place at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Facts that make AFC lean towards Malaysia

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

• Malaysia “are aiming for a fifth straight win when they take on Nepal in what is considered an away game, despite the match 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 not won any points after four matches and also lost to Laos.
• Nepal's national championship has been "frozen" for two and a half years, affecting performance and preparation.

The above facts are used by AFC to strengthen the belief in Malaysia's ability to win all 3 points in the rematch.

Nepal context: broken competitive rhythm

The key point is Nepal’s lack of consistency. The two-and-a-half-year domestic hiatus has led to a decline in quality and rhythm, as demonstrated by four straight losses and the defeat to Laos. This is a gap that the AFC believes Malaysia can exploit to decide the game early.

Implications for Group F and the next leg

AFC also mentioned the race in Group F between Malaysia and Vietnam. Vietnam is currently 3 points behind Malaysia and must focus on the match against Laos. For Malaysia, the immediate goal is 3 points against Nepal, thereby creating momentum for the very important match with Vietnam in the sixth round in March next year.

From a results perspective, the win helps Malaysia maintain their advantage at the top of Group F; while for Vietnam, the pressure of chasing requires a solid performance against Laos. The AFC stressed the expectation of “nothing but 3 points” for Malaysia before entering the aforementioned pivotal appointment.

Legal factors: CAS ruling remains a variable

The AFC’s assessment comes amid Malaysia’s ongoing CAS case involving seven naturalized players. According to sources, Malaysia’s fate hinges on two factors: on-field results and the final CAS ruling. This makes the clash with Nepal not just about immediate points, but also about maintaining positive momentum in the face of an uncertain off-field situation.

Notable quotes from AFC

“Malaysia will be aiming for a fifth straight win when they take on Nepal in an away fixture, although the match will be played at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium,” AFC wrote.

The AFC homepage reiterated: “Malaysia won 2-0 in the first leg in March and expect nothing but 3 points, before entering the very important match with Vietnam in the sixth match in March next year.”

Looking from the data

• Current form: Malaysia are on a winning streak and are aiming for their fifth consecutive win (according to AFC).
• Opponent background: Nepal's top-flight streak ended due to the interruption of the domestic league, 0 points after 4 matches.
• First leg: Malaysia 2-0 Nepal in March.
• Fixtures: The match with Nepal is considered an away match but will be played at Bukit Jalil; followed by a very important match with Vietnam in round six.
• Non-professional variables: The CAS lawsuit involves 7 naturalized players.

With the above support, AFC's assessment is consistent: Malaysia has a clear opportunity to control the race in Group F, before all attention is focused on the confrontation with Vietnam in March next year.