The Jordan U23 coach is wary of the technical playing style of the Vietnam U23 team.
While praising the short passing style and teamwork of coach Kim Sang-sik's team, Omar Najhi warned the Jordan U23 team not to be complacent ahead of their continental opening match.
Ahead of their opening match in Group A at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship, scheduled for 6:30 PM on January 6th, 2026, coach Omar Najhi offered cautious remarks about their opponent, Vietnam U23. Despite the West Asian team's impressive form, the Moroccan strategist urged his players to maintain maximum focus.
Analyzing the distinctive playing style of the Vietnam U23 team.
After carefully studying video footage of Coach Kim Sang-sik's team's matches, Omar Najhi acknowledged that the Vietnam U23 team possesses a unique tactical identity, not commonly seen in West Asian teams. This is considered a significant challenge for the Jordan U23 defense.
"I've researched and watched many clips about the performance of the Vietnam U23 team. They have a distinctive style of play, short passes, and technical group coordination that no other team in West Asia plays. Vietnam also has outstanding individual players."Coach Najhi gave his assessment of the opponent.
The strength of the Jordan U23 team and the psychological challenge.
The West Asian representatives brought to this tournament superior statistics from the qualifying rounds. However, Mr. Najhi believes that past results do not guarantee victory in the finals:
- Form:Three consecutive wins in the qualifying round.
- Attack:He scored a total of 19 goals against Turkmenistan, Taiwan, and Bhutan.
- Defense:They only conceded one goal.
The Moroccan strategist emphasized that the level of competition at the U23 Asian Championship Finals is a completely different story. He repeatedly warned his players to cast aside complacency from previous easy victories and face the harsh reality of Group A, which includes host nation Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, and Vietnam.
The situation in Group A and the competitive pressure.
Being drawn into a group with the 2022 champions, Saudi Arabia, means any mistake could be costly. U23 Jordan understands that a positive result against U23 Vietnam in their opening match will be key to competing for a place in the next round. With serious preparation and a respectful attitude towards their opponent, Coach Omar Najhi's team is aiming for a more pragmatic and effective performance rather than relying on statistics from the qualifying rounds.
