AFF Cup 2022: The age of the participating teams

While the SEA Games are positioned as a competition for young players, with each team allowed to register a maximum of three players over 23 years old, the AFF Cup is where national teams will use their best possible players in the hope of achieving high results.

Vietnam is the 4th oldest country.

Ilhan Fandi (Singapore) is the youngest player in the Ilhan Fandi family. Photo: AFC

Many Southeast Asian teams are undergoing a generational transition, with a significant number of young players being used. The most notable examples are the Laotian and Cambodian national teams, who are fielding squads with many young players at the 2022 AFF Cup. Laos has the youngest average age at 22, while Cambodia is close behind with an average age of 24.4. Laos has 14 players under 23 years old, while the Philippines is next with 7. Their ultimate goal is the upcoming SEA Games 32 in Cambodia.

The oldest team in the AFF Cup is Singapore, with an average age of 28.6. They also have the oldest player in the tournament, goalkeeper Hassan Sunny, 38 years old. The Vietnamese team ranks fourth in terms of "age" with an average age of 26; recently, coach Park has only added a few new faces such as Tuan Hai, Tuan Tai, and Hoang Duc.

Vietnam was the only team in the 2022 AFF Cup without any players under 23 years old. In his final tournament as head coach of the Vietnamese national team, he recalled veteran player Van Quyet, determined to win the gold medal before retiring from Vietnamese football. The preliminary list that coach Park Hang-seo summoned in November included several promising U23 players such as Pham Dinh Duy, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, and Khuat Van Khang... However, at the last minute, none of them made it into the final 23-player squad for the 2022 AFF Cup.

Some notable young faces

The AFF Cup boasts a long history and has been a breeding ground for many outstanding young talents, including Nguyen Quang Hai, Pratama Arhan, Ikhsan Fandi, and Kritsada Kaman. This time, experts are focusing on young stars like Elkan Baggott (Indonesia), who stands at 1.93m tall. This exceptionally tall central defender made his international debut in the 2020 AFF Cup and became a real threat in front of the opponent's goal in aerial situations.

20-year-old striker Sieng Chanthea (Cambodia) is one of the most promising young talents in regional football. Sieng Chanthea has long been famous in Cambodia's youth ranks and is on track to become a key striker for the national team. He was also honored in the domestic league's ideal team for his outstanding performances for Boeung Ket FC.

Mukhairi Ajmal (Malaysia), who just turned 21, is considered one of the most outstanding young talents in Malaysian football. The 1.8m tall central midfielder will be facing Hoang Duc and Hung Dung in the upcoming match. Mukhairi was recently nominated for the Best Young Player award in the country. Playing in the center of midfield, but also capable of playing on both wings, the young Malaysian star is known for his smooth ball control and highly accurate passing.

Ilhan Fandi (Singapore) is the youngest player in the Fandi family. He is looking to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers, Irfan and Ikhsan, in establishing himself as an important player for the Singapore national team. The 20-year-old recently signed a deal to move to Belgium to continue his club career, promising to become an ideal partner for his brother Ikhsan in attack. His impressive physique (1.82m tall) and energetic playing style are his strengths.