Malaysia loses Jordan Mintah just before their match against Nepal.
FAM has confirmed that Jordan Mintah has withdrawn from the Malaysian national team due to health reasons ahead of the match against Nepal on November 18th at Bukit Jalil; Luqman Hakim has been called up as his replacement.
The Malaysian national team suffered a personnel setback just before their match against Nepal on November 18th at Bukit Jalil: according to an announcement from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), naturalized striker Jordan Mintah has withdrawn due to health issues. Coach Peter Cklamovski has also called up Luqman Hakim as a replacement in the attack.
Malaysia loses Jordan Mintah to Nepal: official information and context.
FAM stated that Mintah was unable to continue training during the preparation phase for the match at Bukit Jalil National Stadium due to health reasons. This development comes at a sensitive time, as Malaysian football is facing numerous controversies related to illegal naturalization recently.
Mintah was born in Ghana and has been involved with the M-League since 2020. He is a powerful, experienced striker with a consistent goal-scoring record, having scored over 69 goals in all competitions. He previously played for Terengganu FC II, Kuala Lumpur City, and is currently with Kuching City.
Questions raised by Malaysian media.
According to Malaysian media, Mintah's departure from the national team was not simply due to health reasons. The source emphasized: “This is a shock for Mintah, who was awaiting FIFA approval to represent Malaysia after completing his five-year residency in our country. The striker was born in Ghana and plays for Kuching City. His mysterious departure is truly baffling and has angered many.”
The gap in the attack and the replacement options for Luqman Hakim.
Mintah's absence deprives Malaysia of an experienced center forward option during the squad refinement phase. The coaching staff immediately brought Luqman Hakim back to compensate for the personnel shortage.
Luqman Hakim Profile
Luqman Hakim, 23, plays for Negri Sembilan. Since making his national team debut in May 2021, he has earned 9 caps; his most recent appearance was in 2022. The striker previously played in Europe for Kortrijk (Belgium) and is highly regarded for his speed and off-ball movement. Luqman's return is expected to add versatility to Malaysia's attack amidst a shortage of personnel.
The numbers are noteworthy.
- Match date: November 18th, venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
- Jordan Mintah: over 69 goals in all competitions in the M-League; played for Terengganu FC II, Kuala Lumpur City, Kuching City; has been in Malaysia since 2020.
- Naturalization process: According to Malaysian media, Mintah has completed her five-year residency period and is awaiting FIFA approval.
- Luqman Hakim: 23 years old; 9 caps for the national team since May 2021, most recently in 2022; previously played in Europe for Kortrijk.
Impact ahead of the match against Nepal
In terms of personnel, Malaysia had to adjust their attacking plan due to the absence of an experienced striker like Mintah, while placing their faith in the speed and movement of Luqman Hakim. Conversely, official information from FAM only confirmed the reason as health-related; any further speculation needs careful assessment before any further announcements are made.
Amidst public scrutiny of the national team's personnel selection process and the issue of naturalization, Mintah's withdrawal further draws attention to the upcoming match against Nepal. However, with their current squad, Malaysia aims to maintain a stable lineup and optimize their attacking options for the upcoming clash.
