U17 Song Lam Nghe An falls into the group of death at the 2025 National U17 Championship Finals

Group of death

On the morning of September 8, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) held a ceremony to announce the main sponsor and draw lots for the Final Round of the 2025 National U17 Tournament. The results put U17 Song Lam Nghe An in Group B with Becamex TP. HCM, HAGL and Hanoi - the group considered the "death" of this year's tournament.

According to the format, the 12 participating teams are divided into 3 groups, each group has 4 teams. The teams compete in a round robin, selecting the 8 best teams (3 group winners, 3 second-place teams and 2 third-place teams with better results) to advance to the quarter-finals. With the draw results, SLNA falls into a group with two strong candidates, HAGL and Hanoi. These are names that regularly produce many talents for Vietnamese youth football. Notably, HAGL and Hanoi are the two teams that participated in the 2024 National U17 final, where Hanoi won the championship. In addition, Becamex TP. HCM is also an unpredictable unknown. Although not highly appreciated for its achievements, this team always knows how to create surprises against strong opponents. Therefore, the competition for SLNA's place to continue promises to be extremely fierce.

Coming to the final round, SLNA brought with them impressive achievements in the qualifying round. After 10 matches, the Nghe An team won 21 points, ranked second in Group B with 6 wins, 3 draws and only lost one match to the host PVF-CAND. This is considered a positive result, showing the stability in the playing style as well as the fighting spirit of Coach Hai Nam's students. Meanwhile, the opponents in Group B have not been less prepared. Hanoi closed the qualifying round with 14 points after 8 matches, ranked second in Group A. Although the achievements are not too outstanding, the real strength of the Capital team is only proven when entering important matches. HAGL, with 15 points after 8 matches, leads Group C thanks to the cohesive, disciplined playing style and the ability to develop young players which has become a brand. In terms of level, SLNA is not inferior but stability still needs to be improved.

Challenges and opportunities for U17 Song Lam Nghe An

Falling into the group of death is both a challenge and a great opportunity for U17 SLNA. First of all, the challenge lies in the pressure of competing for a place in the next round. A group with many strong teams forces SLNA to enter the game with high concentration right from the first matches. There is no room for subjectivity, and any misstep can cause the Nghe An team to be eliminated early. However, looking at it from a positive perspective, having to face strong opponents early will be an opportunity for young SLNA players to hone their skills, and possibly avoid strong opponents in the Quarterfinals or even the Semifinals. According to VFF General Secretary - Mr. Nguyen Van Phu affirmed, the National U17 Tournament is "a particularly important basis for discovering young talents to prepare for the U17 Men's Team to participate in the U17 Asian qualifiers next November". With its tradition of youth training, SLNA can completely turn pressure into motivation to break through.

In fact, SLNA youth football has maintained its position in the top of the country for many years. The systematic training system, the fierce competitive spirit and the desire to assert themselves of the young players are the factors that give the Nghe An team the right to expect. Facing HAGL and Hanoi will be an opportunity for SLNA to assert its position in the Vietnamese youth football community.

The 2025 National U17 Championship will take place in Ba Ria - Ho Chi Minh City from September 14 to September 26, promising exciting competitions. With Group B, where many championship candidates gather, each match is decisive. SLNA not only has to demonstrate collective strength, but also needs individuals to shine at the right time to make a difference. The door to the next round is difficult, but not without opportunity. A positive result against Hanoi or HAGL will open up a great advantage for SLNA in the race for a ticket to the quarterfinals. And if they can overcome this challenging group stage, the Nghe An team will have more confidence and excitement to aim for further goals.

With careful preparation, a solid youth training foundation and a traditional competitive spirit, Nghe An fans hope that U17 SLNA will conquer this year's tournament. And Nghe An youth football may find bright talents for the future./.